New Refractometer for QA/QC of Juice

Bellingham + Stanley, a Xylem brand, is showcasing the new Pro-Juice refractometer at Pittcon 2012. The refractometer has been designed specifically to overcome commonly known repeatability issues that occur when analyzing orange juice during the reconstitution phase of production. The Pro-Juice conditions the sample prior to measurement, enabling quality assurance and control quickly and easily.

Refractometers are often used for quality assurance and line control testing of food and beverage products due to their speed of response, robustness and ease of use. Unlike typical beverage products orange juice poses a unique challenge in that it contains insoluble solids from cellular debris and added pulp that settle (in an uncontrolled fashion) on the prism surface of standard refractometers. This causes the refractive index and corresponding Brix readings to vary erratically over time and between applications. This is exacerbated by the need for temperature equalization between all the different samples being measured during a production cycle.

The Pro-Juice from Bellingham + Stanley solves the traditional problems of refractometric analysis of orange juice measurement by carefully combining dynamic measurement with intelligent thermal conditioning. The Pro-Juice employs a peristaltic pump to keep the sample in constant motion, preventing the particles from settling on the prism surface.

“The Pro-Juice design is based on our industry leading refractometer technology while also incorporating new and specific features to overcome the challenges seen with orange juice measurements,” comments Kevin Chapman, Marketing Manager, Bellingham + Stanley. “It is an easy to use system that combines our heritage for producing robust products with first-of-their-type innovations to address a known industry challenge.”