Automatic Titrator Learning Center - Reproducible, Rapid Potentiometric Analysis

Scitek’s fully automatic titrators are easy to operate; after completing just a few basic setup steps, you can quickly begin routine titration analysis. They provide laboratories with a stable, accurate, and efficient testing experience.

This tutorial center compiles information on instrument installation, parameter configuration, battery and electrode solution replacement, and troubleshooting common issues. It helps you quickly master the operation of the fully automatic titrator. Whether you are a first-time user or looking to further improve your operational efficiency, you can find detailed operating instructions in the corresponding sections.

For instrument calibration, technical support, maintenance, or other after-sales services, please contact the Scitek Technical Support Team. We will provide you with professional and timely assistance.

Set Up Your Automated Titrator for First Use

It usually takes just a few simple steps to set up an automatic titrator. Instructional videos and written instructions for each part of the titrator setup are provided below.

1. Assemble the Titrator

Watch the step-by-step assembly tutorial for the TI-86A automatic titrator. You can also assemble the titrator by following the Quick Start Guide.

2. Enter titrator settings

• General Settings

  • When using the TI-86A fully automatic titrator for the first time, it is recommended that you complete the following basic settings:

  • Display Settings: Adjust instrument parameters according to your preferences, including screen brightness, instrument name, date and time, language, and temperature units (°C/°F)

  • Temperature Settings: Depending on your testing needs, manually enter the sample temperature or connect a temperature probe for automatic temperature compensation (ATC).

  • Notifications: Enable or disable instrument alerts, such as: titration completion alerts, maximum titration volume alerts, data storage full alerts, calibration alerts, and maintenance alerts.

  • Instrument Information: View basic device information, including model, serial number, software version, and firmware updates. If necessary, you can restore factory settings (restoring will erase all user data and parameters).

• Burette Settings: After initial installation or replacement of the burette, please complete the following settings:

  • Select the burette specification and choose the corresponding capacity based on your actual configuration:

    10 mL

    20 mL

    50 mL

  • Rinse the burette

    Set the number of rinse cycles and perform an automatic rinse to ensure there are no air bubbles or residual liquid in the tubing.

    Note: Please place the waste cup under the dispensing needle before rinsing.

• Drain Test: Select as needed: Continuous Drain: Used for quickly emptying or flushing the tubing; Quantitative Drain: Enter a specified volume to automatically complete the dispensing.

3. Filling the Burette

The following is the procedure for filling a burette:

• Select the correct titrant: Ensure that the burette is filled with the standard solution required for the experiment.

• Flush the tubing: Insert the pipette into distilled water, draw up the solution, and expel it once to flush the tubing. Then insert the pipette into the titrant to be used and perform 2–3 “draw up → expel” cycles (drawing up approximately one-third of the burette’s volume each time before expelling it).

• Aspirate the solution: Insert the pipette into the titrant below the liquid surface. Locate the “Fill/Aspirate” button on the instrument’s control panel or software interface and click to start. The instrument will automatically raise the piston to draw the titrant into the burette. The aspiration volume is typically set to 80%–100% of the burette’s total capacity (e.g., for a 20 mL burette, set the aspiration volume to 15–20 mL).

• Removing Air Bubbles: After filling is complete, carefully inspect the burette and connecting tubing for air bubbles. Air bubbles are the most common cause of inaccurate titration volumes.

• Zeroing the Liquid Level: After removing air bubbles, ensure the burette is completely filled with titrant and free of air bubbles. Click Dispense or Zero to adjust the liquid level at the tip of the burette to the zero mark or initial position. Use filter paper to blot away any residual droplets from the outside of the burette tip (be careful not to touch the inside of the mouthpiece).

• Verification: Dispense a small amount of titrant (e.g., 0.5–1.0 mL) and observe whether the dispensed liquid flows continuously and without entrained bubbles. If bubbles reappear, repeat the degassing steps above.

4. Preparing the Electrodes

Once you’ve completed the preparations described above, preparing the electrodes is very simple. Watch the video below to learn how to replace the electrode solution.

Daily testing workflow with your auto titrator

The following is a series of common operating procedures to help you easily get started with the daily use of your titrator.

1. Titrant and Air Bubbles

Ensure there is sufficient titrant in the bottle for that day’s titrations.

Before the first titration of the day, pour a small amount of titrant (e.g., 5 mL) to clear the dispenser and remove air bubbles.

If air bubbles are still visible in the burette, gently tap the tube and dispense the titrant drop by drop until the bubbles are eliminated.

Note: Before starting the rinse cycle, place a waste beaker under the dispenser probe!

2. Electrode Preparation

Add electrode filling solution to the bottom of the filling port and keep the filling port open during the measurement. Between titration cycles, thoroughly rinse the electrode with RGW.

3. Select method

4. Sample Preparation

Sample preparation can be quite simple; you may just need to pour a certain amount of sample into a beaker.

5. Cleaning and Storage

After each titration, clean the instrument and electrode promptly to ensure accurate results for the next test. The cleaning steps are as follows:

Rinse the electrode thoroughly with RGW solution to ensure no sample or titrant residue remains.

After rinsing, cover the electrode’s filling port. Then store the electrode in the storage solution recommended in the manual.

Rinse the titrant dispenser, stirrer, and ATC temperature probe with clean water to remove any residual liquid from the previous experiment.

If the sample is viscous, oily, or prone to sticking, it is recommended to first wipe off surface residues with laboratory wipes; then rinse or briefly soak the relevant components in a 1% laboratory cleaning solution; finally, rinse thoroughly with plenty of clean water.

After cleaning, dry all components with a cloth or allow them to air dry, and store them properly according to the manual’s instructions.

If you notice that the electrode’s response has slowed, readings are unstable, or the surface is visibly dirty, perform further cleaning and maintenance following the procedures outlined in the “Titrator and Electrode Maintenance” section of the manual.

How to Replace the Titrant

Disconnect the tubing from the titrant bottle so that the tubing remains disconnected and exposed to the air.

Ensure the tubing is kept away from dust and contaminants and remains clean.

Perform 3 flushes to purge the original titrant from the burette, tubing, and dispenser using air.

Connect the tubing to a reagent bottle containing deionized water.

Perform 3 flushes to rinse the burette, tubing, and dispenser with deionized water.

Disconnect the tubing again and leave it exposed to the air.

Perform 3 more rinses to purge the deionized water from the tubing with air.

Remove the burette, invert it, and gently shake it to drain as much residual liquid as possible before reinstalling it.

Connect the tubing to the reagent bottle containing the new titrant.

Perform 3–5 rinses to thoroughly rinse the burette, tubing, and dispenser with the new titrant.

Applications of the Automatic Titrator

Determination of Total Hardness in Water by Automatic Titration

Total hardness is determined by EDTA complexometric titration. The sample is first adjusted to pH 10 using an ammonia buffer, and then titrated with a standardized EDTA solution. Calcium and magnesium ions react with EDTA to form stable complexes. A calcium ion-selective electrode (ISE) continuously monitors the potential change during the titration, allowing the instrument to accurately identify the equivalence point and automatically calculate the total hardness of the water sample.

Total alkalinity in water by automatic titration

Total alkalinity is determined by automatic acid-base titration. A standard hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution is added to the water sample while a pH electrode continuously monitors the change in pH. The titrator automatically dispenses the titrant until the preset endpoint of pH 4.5 is reached. Based on the volume of acid consumed, the instrument calculates the total alkalinity of the sample. This method is suitable for measuring alkalinity contributed by hydroxide, carbonate, and bicarbonate ions in various water samples.

P and M alkalinity, carbonate, and bicarbonate in water by automatic titration

P and M alkalinity are determined by automatic acid-base titration using a standard sulfuric acid solution as the titrant. During the analysis, a pH electrode continuously monitors the sample pH while the titrator automatically adds the acid. The instrument first titrates to pH 8.3 to determine P (phenolphthalein) alkalinity, and then continues to pH 4.5 to determine M (total or methyl orange) alkalinity. Based on the acid consumption at these two endpoints, the instrument automatically calculates the P and M alkalinity values, and can further estimate the concentrations of carbonate (CO₃⊃2;⁻) and bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) in the water sample.

Total Base Number in petroleum products by automatic titration

Total Base Number (TBN) is determined by automatic potentiometric back titration. The oil sample is first dissolved in a suitable solvent mixture, and an excess amount of standard perchloric acid (PCA) is added to neutralize the alkaline components present in the lubricant. The remaining unreacted acid is then back-titrated with a standard sodium acetate titrant. Throughout the titration, a pH electrode continuously monitors the potential change to accurately detect the equivalence point. Based on the amount of acid consumed by the sample, the instrument automatically calculates the Total Base Number (TBN), which reflects the oil's alkaline reserve and its ability to neutralize acidic by-products.

Titratable acidity in wine/orange juice by automatic titration

Titratable Acidity (TA) is determined by automatic acid-base titration using a standard sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as the titrant. During the analysis, a pH electrode continuously monitors the sample pH while the titrator automatically adds the titrant. The titration proceeds until the preset endpoint of pH 8.2 is reached, where the organic acids in the sample have been neutralized. Based on the volume of sodium hydroxide consumed, the instrument automatically calculates the titratable acidity, providing an accurate assessment of the total organic acid content in wine, juice, or must.

Determination of salt content in prepared food by automatic titration

Salt content is determined by automatic argentometric titration using a standard silver nitrate (AgNO₃) solution as the titrant. During the analysis, silver ions react quantitatively with chloride ions in the sample to form insoluble silver chloride (AgCl). A silver combination electrode continuously monitors the potential change throughout the titration, allowing the instrument to automatically detect the equivalence point. Based on the volume of silver nitrate consumed, the titrator calculates the chloride concentration and converts it into the sodium chloride (salt) content of the sample.

Conclusion

We recommend following the tutorials in sequence for the best learning experience. If you need further assistance with installation, operation, calibration, or maintenance, our Scitek Technical Support Team is ready to help.