| You often hear the term brix and brix refractometer | | | | one wants to know the exact concentration, a |
| when testing samples for sugar content. Just what is | | | | conversion chart is necessary. |
| a refractometer? A refractometer is an instrument | | | | Digital versus Analog Brix refractometers |
| that measures the refraction of light through a | | | | Brix refractometers are available in hand-held |
| substance. The refractive index becomes higher in a | | | | (analogue) or digital models. Hand held units are read |
| substance of higher concentration. | | | | by putting a drop of sample on the prism, closing the |
| A refractometer has a wide variety of uses such as | | | | daylight plate and then reading the scale through an |
| measuring sugar concentrations and liquid | | | | eyepiece as the instrument is held up to your eye. A |
| concentrations. Refractometers are sometimes | | | | hand-held/analogue unit determines the refractive index |
| called “Sugar concentration meters” or | | | | or brix by use of the “Transparent System” |
| “Density meters” depending on the application. | | | | which measures light as it passes through the sample |
| Brix and refractive index are common measurement | | | | and the prism. A low concentration sample has a |
| scales for refractometers. A refractometer that | | | | larger angle of refraction so the boundary line falls on |
| measures brix is referred to as a Brix | | | | the lower part of the scale, whereas a high |
| Refractometer. When measuring solutions that | | | | concentration sample has a small angle of refraction |
| have multiple ingredients the Brix value equals the total | | | | so the boundary line appears in the upper part of the |
| concentration of dissolved solids. | | | | scale. |
| About the Brix (%) Scale | | | | Digital Brix refractometers use the “Reflected light |
| Brix (%) shows the concentration percentage of the | | | | system. When you put a sample on the prism and |
| soluble solids content in a sample (water solution). | | | | press the Start button, the light that is transmitted from |
| The soluble solids content is the total of all the solids | | | | under the sample will travel and refract in multiple |
| dissolved in the water, including sugar, salts, protein, | | | | directions. The angle of reflection is proportional to |
| acids, etc., and the measurement reading is the sum | | | | the refractive index of the sample, and the reflected |
| total of these. Basically, Brix (%) is the number of | | | | light is measured by a sensor and converted into the |
| grams of cane sugar contained in 100g of cane sugar | | | | refractive index or brix readout. |
| solution. When measuring a sugar solution, Brix (%) | | | | Because of their versatility, brix refractometers are |
| should perfectly match the actual concentration. With | | | | used widely to test sugar content in fruit, vegetables, |
| solutions containing other components, especially when | | | | wine and other food products. |