As you probably realize, the proper cleaning of a measurement cell will help ensure its long life and let it continue to function with high precision. In today's article we will be introducing some tips and tricks for cleaning the ALM-155's measurement cell, giving advice for cleaning in 3 types of situations. These include:
1. Cleaning the cell after measurement
2. Cleaning the cell after experiencing poor measurement repeatability or after measurement time takes longer than usual
3. Cleaning the cell after the last measurement of the day
1. Cleaning the cell after measurement
With tissue paper or the like, wipe any residual sample off of the end of the sampling tube before placing it into a beaker of pure water. Press the [PUMP] button to initiate the intake of the water into the cell. Once a sufficient amount has run through the cell to clean it, take the tube out of the water to set it aside, and once all of the water has flushed through the instrument, press the [PUMP] button once more to stop the pump. Wipe the sampling tube once more to remove any residual water.
TIP: When measuring samples that have a high alcohol content or are highly viscous,
you should flush the cell with at least 100mL of pure water to properly rinse it out.
2. Cleaning the cell after experiencing poor measurement repeatability or after measurement time takes longer than usual
If repeatability is poor and/or measurements take longer than usual, it is likely that the cell is contaminated with a build-up of unflushed sample or other foreign substance, so we recommend the use of kitchen bleach to remove it. Please prepare between a 1:50~1:100 solution of bleach diluted in pure water for this purpose.
Perform cleaning with pure water as described in (1) above. Following this, pump dilute bleach solution into the cell and after letting the cell soak for 30 minutes, flush the bleach out with plenty of pure water.
If stubborn proteinaceous substances from beer or must samples are left behind, try using a preparation of commercially available denture cleaner. Following the product's instructions, dissolve the product in water, run into the cell and let it soak for 30 minutes. After this, rinse well with pure water. If the denture cleaner produces bubbles when preparing it, set it aside until all bubbles have dissipated before pumping it in to the cell.
TIP: Soak the cell in bleach from 30 minutes to a maximum of 1 hour. Make sure not to leave it any longer than 1 hour, as excess exposure to strong alkaline can cause degradation of the inside of the cell.
TIP: If using chlorine bleach, it is mandatory that the sample tube and cell is adequately flushed with pure water to remove traces of alcohol. If undiluted chlorine bleach mixes with a high concentration of alcohol, chlorine gas may be generated.
3. Cleaning the cell after the last measurement of the day
Perform cleaning with pure water as described in (1) above.
If you suspect the cell is not able to be sufficiently cleaned with pure water alone, proceed to perform additional cleaning as per the suggestions in (2) above. Once you are satisfied that the cell has been adequately cleaned, place the sample tube in a beaker of pure water and press [PUMP] to run it into the cell. Once the water has filled the cell, press [PUMP] once more (leaving the cell to soak), and with that the end of day cleaning procedure is completed.
If you don’t plan on using the ALM-155 again for a long period (over 1 week), clean as above, flushing all of the pure water out after the final step, leaving the cell empty. Upon using the machine again, check the sampling tube for mold just in case. If it happens that mold has started to grow, proceed with cleaning as outlined in (2) above.
We hope that you enjoyed the article! If you have any questions, or would like a quote for the ALM-155 Alcohol Meter, please feel free to contact us by clicking the yellow “contact” button at the top of the page! Thank you for reading.