Systematic absorbance errors with technicon autoanalyzer II colorimeters

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1978

Abstract

Technicon AutoAnalyzer II colorimeters have spectrophotometric flowcells with curved optical ends. Light passing through these flowcells is refracted severely at the non-perpendicular ends. Curved ends therefore cause differences in apparent absorbance measured at the phototube which are related to differences in the refractive indices of the solutions in the cells. This can cause significant error in the colorimetric analysis of solutions with different refractive indices (caused, for example, by variations in salinity). This effect is responsible for a systematic error which, for typical AutoAnalyzer determinations of phosphate in seawater or estuarine waters, can approximate 0.2 μM. © 1978.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Water Research

Volume

12

Issue

8

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