One of the most popular analytical techniques is titration. Numerous academic studies thoroughly investigate the well-known options of manual, semiautomated, and completely automated titrations. The advantages of automated titration in comparison to manual titration are outlined in this article. Measurements in precision and accuracy are addressed, along with significant time and money savings.
Titration is a straightforward primary analytical technique that calls for a buret, titrators, either manual titrators or digital titrators, and an appropriate endpoint indication. It is a fact that this is one of the oldest quantitative analytical techniques. Francois Antoine Henri Descroizilles created the first buret in the 18th century; Karl Friedrich Mohr improved it and published the first book on titration, "Instructional Book of Titration Methods in Analytical Chemistry," in 1855.
It is challenging to forecast the exact color change for each indicator because it depends on the pH level and the complex metal, especially for the complexometric processes.
Challenges of Manual Titration
Despite being nearly 200 years old, manual titration is still regularly employed and is listed in several standards and norms. Manual titrations do, however, encounter several challenges.
Results from manual titration can only be as precise as the buret's smallest drop size. The standard for one drop in the pharmaceutical sector is 50 L. This indicates that a maximum precision concerning a drop size of 50 L is possible. This might result in a 1% inaccuracy, assuming an intake of 5 mL titrant.
Development of Semiautomated titration
An electronic buret can be used to overcome the limitations of accuracy and precision of manual titrations. It is made out of a glass cylinder containing a titrant and a spindle powered by an electric motor. Additionally, more modern models have an integrated stirrer that enables users to perform calculations automatically, store data on a storage device, or print the results immediately after analysis.
Accuracy and precision are the key gains when converting from manual to semiautomated titration. Compared to manual titration, electronic burets can dose as precisely 2.5 L for a 50 mL cylinder unit, increasing accuracy by 20. The greatest drawback, however, still exists: the subjectivity of visual perception. Automated potentiometric titration is thus the next development in titration.
An Improved Accuracy & Precision
With contemporary auto-titrators, a resolution of 10,000–100,000 steps can be attained. This translates to a 50 mL motor-driven buret with a precision of 5 L down to 0.5 L. Using a smaller-volume motor-driven buret can improve accuracy even more.
Traceable Results for Data Integrity
All data from manual titration processes are read from the buret, recorded in the lab notebook, or manually entered into the software. There is a strong possibility that the values conveyed in this operation will need to be more accurate. Automated titrations are used to resolve this problem since they automatically calculate the results on the device and record the recorded values into a list of measuring points; if you want to buy the best digital titrators, Jade Scientific, Inc. is the one-stop solution.
Conclusion
Along with considerable productivity, accuracy, and precision improvements, there is a negligible human effect on the analysis. Because of all these factors, automated titration is more straightforward than human titration and produces more similar and repeatable results.
