The SA200 Automatic Analyzer is a fully automatic analysis system that allows for a fast and accurate analysis of free acid and dissolved metals. The concentration of any mixed acid solution of H2SO4, HCl or HNO3 in conjunction with HF, and the total concentration dissolved metal ions, can be determined in less than two minutes, and reported as either g/L, wt% or molar.
Powerful Statistical Process Control (SPC) software allows the SA200 to track multiple acid recipes, while the software’s automatic control chart plotting allows operations to quickly access the current state of the process. When action is necessary to bring the process into the control range, the SA200 software automatically calculates and performs the required raw acid dosage or water addition.
Adding to the SA200 functionality, all analytical results, including calibrations, check standards and samples are logged in a historical database, and may be reviewed at any time, plotted on control charts or exported as raw data. The historical database, combined with the SPC software allows operations to quickly access and address variations in the acid process, or, alternatively, offers the assurance that the acid process was in compliance should variations in quality control (QC) occur.
Like the AT75s, AT75 and SA70, the SA200 analytical method is based on density and specially designed ion-selective electrodes, and the instrument is composed of three main components as follows:
(1) The MASS, which contains the automatic densitometer, cooling and dilution unit, (2) the Acid Tester, which contains three electrodes – two ion-selective for H+, F- and one reference electrode – and (3) the microprocessor (computer) that operates and controls the system.
In service, an acid sample is drawn from the process (pickling or milling tank) automatically into the MASS, where is it cooled and the density determined. After the MASS, the sample is then diluted and transferred to the Acid Tester.
In the Acid Tester, the potential difference measured between the ion selective electrodes and the reference is used to determine the specific ion activity. To compensate for temperature dependence in ion activity, a thermocouple measures the temperature in the sample during the test.
Concentrations of free acid are calculated as a function of ion activity. Total metals are calculated as a function of free acid concentration and density.
Calibration of the SA200 is by ISO certified solutions, and is done automatically. Based on user defined process parameters of acid concentration, metal concentration and process volume, the SA200 software calculates the necessary raw acid and water addition required to maintain the process at the target concentrations. If supplied (optional), the SA200 can perform the dosing calculations automatically.
