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| pH CALIBRATION AND pH SOLUTIONS |
pH calibration challenge
To calibrate pH measuring systems you must use a solution with a known pH value, also known as pH reference or
buffer pH solution. The accuracy of your subsequent pH measurements
is dependent on how accurately the pH measuring system is calibrated, so particular attention must be paid to
this step. Because there are a great number of different buffer pH solutions available many people are
uncertain about how many and what pH calibration solutions should be used.
What is a buffer pH solution and how many pH calibration points are reasonable?
A buffer pH solution is composed of either a weak acid and the conjugated base or a weak base and the conjugated
acid. The main characteristic of a buffer pH calibration solution is that the pH value of the solution will
not alter when a small amount of acid or a base is added [1]. The components and their concentration can
cause the pH value of the calibration solution to vary across a large range e.g. with HCl and sodium citrate
(pH 1-5), citric acid and sodium citrate (2.5 - 5.6), acetic acid and sodium acetate (3.7-5.6),
Na2HPO4 and NaH2HPO4 (6-9) or borax sodium hydroxide (9.2-11).
The pH value of a calibration solution does not only alter with its composition but with temperature changes. An
exact specification of reference pH calibration solutions is given by the DIN 19266 [2]. The thermal characteristics
of these buffer pH calibration solutions have been determined by metrological institutes (see Table 1).
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Temperature in °C
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pH
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10
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3.997
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6.923
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9.332
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20
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4.001
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6.881
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9.225
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25
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4.005
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6.865
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9.180
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40
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4.027
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6.838
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9.068
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50
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4.050
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6.833
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9.011
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Table 1: Temperature behavior of reference pH buffer
In contrast to reference pH calibration solutions the composition of technical buffer pH solutions is not regulated. So
it is important to note that the temperature reaction of those pH calibration solutions can vary, even if the same nominal
pH value is specified at 25°C. In particular at a calibration temperature other than 25°C considerable
errors can occur with the pH measurement results. In
addition to different kinds of buffer pH solutions the calibration procedure plays a major role in determining the
accuracy of the pH measurement. The following pH calibration procedures are described in detail in DIN 19288 [3].
- One-point-calibration: A one-point-calibration is accomplished using one reference pH calibration solution. Here
only the zero point of the pH electrode is verified and it is assumed that the increasing pH values measured by
the pH electrode approximately match the Nernst
effect. This method of pH electrode calibration is the fastest.
- Two-point-calibration: This calibration method is accomplished using two reference pH calibration solutions, with a
minimum pH difference of two units. Here the maximum measurable pH value and zero point are determined by a
linear slope cutting through the measuring points. Because pH electrodes usually have very good linearity,
this form of calibration is sufficient enough to provide high measurement accuracy.
- Multipoint-calibration: A multipoint calibration is accomplished with three or more reference pH calibration solutions. The
difference between pH solutions should be greater than 0.5 pH units. The pH electrode calibration curve is
determined by either linear regression through all measuring points or built from segments between neighbored buffers
in which the zero point and transconductance can be calculated. To evaluate the certainty of the calibration
procedure the stability index (R2) could be consulted. It shows whether the theory correlates with the results
and should have a value around 1. Often alkaline buffer solutions are used to accomplish a multipoint
calibration. These should be checked for freshness and their percentage error effect has to be estimated.
Generally a two-point-calibration with DIN buffer pH calibration solutions 4.01 and 6.87 is sufficient, because they are very stable
and pH electrodes have high accuracy beyond the calibration
points due to their high linearity. For additional coverage the two-point-calibration can be checked through an additional
measuring of a buffer pH calibration solution within the range of the estimated pH value.
pH calibration conclusions
The higher the required accuracy of the pH measurement, the
higher the need for DIN-19266 buffer pH calibration solutions, which provide an accuracy of under 0.01 pH. Multipoint-calibrations
should increase the accuracy and for most pH measurement applications a two-point-calibration will be satisfactory. For
more information on calibrating a pH electrode please click here.
References:
[1] Rompp, Chemi-Lexikon, 9. Auflage, Thieme (1990)
[2] DIN 19266, Referenzpufferlosungen zur Kalibrierung von pH-Messeinrichtungen, Beuth Verlag, (2000)
[3] DIN 19268, pH-Messung - pH-Messung von wassrigen Losungen mit pH-Messketten mit pH-Glaselektroden und Abschatzung der Messunsicherheit, Beuth Verlag, (2007)
For more general information on calibrating a pH electrode please click here.
For information on pH measurements please click here.
For specific information on pH maintenance please click here.
For specific information on pH glass electrode types please click here.
For information on pH electrode reference systems and diaphragms click here.
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