Below are questions frequently asked by our customers and partners about GAO Tek’s polarimeters. They are further classified by their features analog,  benchtop, high accuracy,  multichannel, rugged, and automatic. 

If you have any questions about our products or want to place an order, our technical experts can help you. Please fill out this form: https://gaotek.com/ask-an-expert/  

or email us at sales@gaotek.com 

 

 What is a polarimeter? 

GAO Tek polarimeters are an analytical instrument used to measure the angle of rotation of polarized light as it passes through optically active substances. It determines the concentration, purity, or specific rotation of substances. 

 

How do polarimeters work? 

It works by passing plane-polarized light through a sample containing optically active compounds. The sample rotates the plane of polarization, and the polarimeters measure this rotation angle, which is directly related to the concentration or specific rotation of the substance. 

 

What are optically active substances? 

Optically active substances are compounds that can rotate the plane of polarized light due to their asymmetrical molecular structure. Examples include sugars, amino acids, and many pharmaceutical compounds. 

 

What are the applications of polarimeters? 

  • Chemical Analysis: Determining concentrations and purities of optically active substances in pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, and chemical industries. 
  • Research: Studying the optical properties of compounds, such as chiral molecules, in various scientific research fields. 
  • Quality Control: Ensuring the quality and consistency of substances with specific optical properties in manufacturing processes. 

 

What is specific rotation in polarimetry? 

Specific rotation is a characteristic property of a compound that describes the angle through which plane-polarized light rotates when passing through a solution of that compound at a known concentration and path length. It’s expressed in degrees per unit concentration and path length. 

 

How does temperature affect polarimetry measurements? 

Temperature can influence the specific rotation of optically active substances, causing variations in the observed angle of rotation. Some polarimeters, including those from GAO Tek, may have temperature control features to mitigate these effects. 

 

Are polarimeters only used for liquid samples? 

While most polarimeters are designed for liquid samples, there are specialized polarimeters capable of measuring the optical activity of solid samples by preparing them as solutions or suspensions. 

 

What are polarimeter cells or tubes? 

The polarimeter cell or tube is a container used to hold the sample solution during measurements in a polarimeter. These cells are often made of high-quality glass and come in various path lengths to optimize measurement accuracy. 

 

Are polarimeters commonly used in the pharmaceutical and food industries? 

Yes, polarimeters are extensively used in these industries to assess the purity and concentration of optically active compounds, ensuring quality control and adherence to standards in drug formulations, food additives, and more. 

 

What should be considered when selecting polarimeters? 

Factors include the required measurement accuracy, type and volume of samples, temperature control capabilities, ease of use, and compatibility with specific applications or industry standards. 

 

What are the different types of polarimeters available, and how do they differ in their operating principles? 

Polarimeters, such as those by GAO Tek, encompass traditional manual polarimeters, automatic polarimeters, and digital polarimeters. They differ in their methods of measuring optical rotation, automation level, and data processing capabilities 

 

Can polarimeters handle both low- and high-concentration samples accurately? 

Polarimeters are suitable for a wide range of concentrations. However, when measuring highly concentrated solutions, it’s essential to use appropriate sample dilution methods to prevent saturation effects. 

 

What is the role of temperature control in polarimetry, and how does temperature affect the accuracy of measurements? 

Temperature control is crucial as the specific rotation of substances is temperature-dependent. Polarimeters equipped with temperature-controlled cells or sample compartments help maintain accuracy by compensating for temperature variations. 

 

Are polarimeters capable of measuring the enantiomeric excess or enantiomeric purity of a substance? 

Yes, our polarimeters can determine the enantiomeric excess or purity by comparing the observed optical rotation with the theoretical value for a pure enantiomer. 

 

Can polarimeters analyze solid-state or solid-phase samples, or are they primarily designed for liquid samples? 

While polarimeters are commonly used for liquid samples, some models we offered, equipped with additional accessories such as solid sample holders or flow cells, can analyze solid-state samples or suspensions. 

 

How do polarimeters deal with sample turbidity or particulate matter that might interfere with measurements? 

Turbidity or particulate matter can affect the accuracy of measurements. Filtering or clarifying samples before analysis or using specialized polarimeters designed to mitigate these effects can help obtain accurate results. 

 

What are the advantages of digital polarimeters over traditional manual ones in terms of data handling and analysis? 

Digital polarimeters offer benefits such as automated data acquisition, easier data processing, higher accuracy, and the ability to store and retrieve measurements for analysis and documentation. 

 

Can polarimeters be used for real-time monitoring or kinetic studies of reactions involving optically active compounds? 

Some advanced polarimeters we provided allow real-time monitoring of reactions involving chiral compounds, enabling the study of reaction kinetics or changes in optical activity during a process. 

 

Are there standardized methods or regulations governing the use of polarimeters in specific industries or applications? 

Depending on the industry or application, certain standards like pharmacopeial monographs or specific regulations may dictate the use and validation requirements for polarimetric measurements. 

 

What are the applications of polarimeters? 

  • Chemistry and Chemical Analysis: Polarimeters are widely used in chemistry laboratories to determine the concentration, purity, and identity of optically active compounds such as sugars, amino acids, pharmaceuticals, and chiral molecules. They help in characterizing substances based on their optical activity. 
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: In pharmaceuticals, polarimetry is crucial for analyzing and characterizing chiral molecules. It assists in determining the purity of drug compounds, understanding enantiomeric excess, and verifying the optical purity of drugs to ensure their effectiveness. 
  • Food and Beverage Industry: Polarimeters are employed to assess the sugar content, purity, and quality of food products like honey, syrups, fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages. They help in determining the concentrations of sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose. 
  • Research and Academia: In scientific research and academia, polarimeters are used to study molecular structures, investigate the optical properties of materials, and conduct experiments in the fields of physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and material science. 
  • Quality Control and Industry Standards: Various industries, including cosmetics, agriculture, and chemical manufacturing, utilize polarimeters for quality control purposes. They ensure compliance with industry standards and specifications by verifying the optical properties of raw materials and finished products. 
  • Environmental Analysis: Polarimetry can be used in environmental studies to analyze natural substances, pollutants, and contaminants in water, soil, and air samples. It aids in identifying and quantifying optically active substances present in environmental samples. 
  • Sugar Refining and Production: Polarimeters are integral in the sugar industry to measure the sugar content in solutions and monitor the refining process. They help in maintaining the quality and consistency of sugar products. 

 

What U.S. regulations do GAO Tek polarimeters comply with or help customers to comply with? 

  • FDA Regulations (Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals): Polarimeters used in medical devices, drug research, or pharmaceutical manufacturing might need to adhere to regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These regulations emphasize safety, efficacy, quality, and materials used in medical devices or pharmaceutical equipment. 
  • Industry-Specific Standards and Guidelines: Various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, chemical manufacturing, and research laboratories may have industry-specific standards and guidelines related to optical instruments, including polarimeters. These standards often focus on accuracy, calibration, and performance criteria applicable to these instruments. 
  • Quality Management Systems (ISO, cGMP, etc.): Manufacturers may follow quality management systems such as ISO 9001 or Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) to ensure consistent quality, documentation, and compliance in producing polarimeters for various applications. 
  • Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Safety Standards: Polarimeters equipped with electronic components must comply with electromagnetic compatibility and safety standards outlined by organizations like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to ensure safe operation and regulatory compliance. 
  • Accuracy and Calibration Standards: Instruments used for measurements, including polarimeters, might need to adhere to standards ensuring accuracy, traceability, and calibration procedures to ensure reliable and consistent measurements. 
  • Industry Guidelines for Optical Instruments: Standards and guidelines from industry associations or organizations related to optical instruments might cover aspects specific to polarimeters, ensuring performance, accuracy, and reliability in optical measurements. 

 

What Canadian regulations do GAO Tek polarimeters comply with or help customers comply with? 

  • Health Canada Regulations (Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals): Polarimeters used in medical devices, drug research, or pharmaceutical manufacturing may need to adhere to regulations set by Health Canada. These regulations emphasize safety, efficacy, quality, and materials used in medical devices or pharmaceutical equipment. 
  • Industry-Specific Standards and Guidelines: Various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, chemical manufacturing, and research laboratories may have industry-specific standards and guidelines related to optical instruments, including polarimeters. These standards often focus on accuracy, calibration, and performance criteria applicable to these instruments. 
  • Quality Management Systems (ISO, cGMP, etc.): Manufacturers may follow quality management systems such as ISO 9001 or Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) to ensure consistent quality, documentation, and compliance in producing polarimeters for various applications. 
  • Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Safety Standards: Polarimeters equipped with electronic components must comply with electromagnetic compatibility and safety standards outlined by organizations like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to ensure safe operation and regulatory compliance. 
  • Accuracy and Calibration Standards: Instruments used for measurements, including polarimeters, might need to adhere to standards ensuring accuracy, traceability, and calibration procedures to ensure reliable and consistent measurements. 
  • Industry Guidelines for Optical Instruments: Standards and guidelines from industry associations or organizations related to optical instruments might cover aspects specific to polarimeters, ensuring performance, accuracy, and reliability in optical measurements. 

 

What international standards do GAO Tek polarimeters comply with or help customers comply with? 

  • ISO 5725: This standard specifies the accuracy of measurement methods and results, providing guidelines for the design and interpretation of proficiency testing and inter-laboratory comparisons. Compliance with this standard helps ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurements made by polarimeters. 
  • ISO 9001: Polarimeter manufacturers may need to comply with this standard, which outlines requirements for a quality management system, ensuring that they have effective quality control processes in place for the design, production, and servicing of their instruments. 
  • Pharmacopeial Standards: If polarimeters are used in pharmaceutical applications, compliance with standards established by pharmacopeias such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), or Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) might be necessary. These standards typically define the methods and acceptance criteria for polarimetric measurements in pharmaceutical analysis. 
  • ASTM International Standards: ASTM develops and publishes international standards across various industries. For polarimeters, ASTM standards like ASTM E275, ASTM E315, and ASTM E2144 might be applicable. These standards cover procedures for polarimetric measurements and the calibration of polarimeters. 
  • IEC 61010: These are standard general safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use. Depending on the design and features, polarimeters with electronic components might need to comply with this standard to ensure electrical safety. 
  • European Union Directives: If selling polarimeters in the European Union, compliance with relevant directives, such as the Machinery Directive or the Low Voltage Directive, might be necessary to affix the CE mark, indicating conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards. 

 

What alternative names does a polarimeter have? 

The alternative names of polarimeters include polariscope, optical rotatory dispersion, optical activity meter, saccharimeter, polarizing instrument, and refractometer. 

 

What polarimeter does GAO Tek have? 

Here is the link for the entire polarimeters category https://gaotek.com/category/life-sciences/polarimeters/.The polarimeters are further categorized by feature analog, benchtop, high accuracy,  multichannel, rugged, and automatic. 

 

How much time does GAO Tek take to ship to a U.S. location? 

GAO Tek ships overnight to anywhere on the continental U.S. from one of its North American facilities. 

 

How much time does GAO Tek take to ship to a Canadian location? 

GAO Tek ships overnight to anywhere in continental Canada from one of its North American facilities.Â