Titration 4.0

Bettina Straub-Jubb

Article from Analytix Reporter - Issue 6

Titration goes digital - a joint project

In a joint project with METTLER TOLEDO, Switzerland, known as a manufacturer of high-end titration instruments, and us, we have together developed this new titration technology to improve data integrity. With combined expert knowledge, we created a user-friendly and easy to use tool for transferring data wirelessly from the reagents to the titrator to open a new page of titration.

Introduction

This new technology using SmartChemicals in your titration process can secure your data transfer. Additionally, it saves time by eliminating manual data transmission.

Certificates of analysis often need to be downloaded and data subsequently copied manually to the titrator software for the correct calculation of the results and for documentation. This process is time consuming and creates sources of errors - such as typing mistakes.

The use of SmartChemicals eliminates these time- consuming steps and the potential for human errors by transferring all data wirelessly and instantly to the titrator software (see below). Volumetric solutions, Karl Fischer titrants and all standards are embedded with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag bearing all relevant information from the Certificate of Analysis.

Table 1 lists the information stored on the RFID tag for SmartTitrants and SmartStandards. Just a brief touch of the titrator’s SmartReader on the SmartChemical tag on the bottle (Figure 1) conveys all relevant data to the titrator software, saving time, reducing errors and ensuring maximum data integrity.

Secure data integrity in the titration process was never so easy

RFID tag on the SmartChemical label contains all relevant data

All data needed for execution of the method, result calculation and documentation, such as product name, catalog number, lot/batch number, concentration/ purity, date of release, shelf life/expiry date, are stored on the RFID tag on the SmartChemical label (Figure 1) for seamless transfer to the titrator software. For standards, additional data is transferred, including molecular weight, supplier/producer name, uncertainty and compliance according to Pharmacopeias or ISO 17034 (Table 1).

Once the information is transferred from the RFID to the titrator, it is stored in the titration software and displayed on the touchscreen (Figure 2 & 3).

Figure 1. Titrator’s RFID reader and example label of a SmartChemical (RFID Tag marked).

Table 1. RFID data content

Name	Name
Concentration	Concentration/Purity
Article number	Article number
Lot/Batch no.	Lot/Batch no.
Shelf life	Expiry date
Initial opening date	Initial opening date
Date of release (Date / Time)	Date of release (Date / Time)
	Molecular weight
	Compliance
	Uncertainty

Figure 2. Information on SmartTitrant as displayed in the titrator software

Figure 3. Information on SmartStandards as displayed in the titrator software

Previously opened chemicals are also recognized, and the initial opening date is stored on the RFID tag and is shown on the instrument’s touchscreen. Expired chemicals are automatically blocked from use preventing an incompliance of the measurement. In addition, user-specific guidelines regarding use period after opening can be set up and monitored by entering an individual life span into the software.

SmartChemicals are compatible with the METTLER TOLEDO instruments

Excellence Titrator models T5, T7, T9

Compact Titrator models G10S, G20S, V30S, V20S, V10S

Conclusion

SmartChemicals with the RFID tag on the label provide

• Secure data transfer – ensures complete and correct reagent data
• Ease of use – intuitive operation and convenient data transfer in one touch
• Extended quality management – titer determination, shelf life, compliance data, initial opening date
• Improved efficiency – fast data transfer - saves time no manual writing and no need to employ the four-eyes principle

Supelco^® SmartChemicals - product list