Solids Analyzer

A soilds analyzer determines the totals solid of a sample with the loss on drying method and consists of a weighing and heating unit (infrared). It is often also called moisture analyzer or moisture meter.

Total solids are determined measuring the dry content in water or solvent by evaporating all the water using a solids analyzer from the sample. Total suspended solids are measured by filtering the sample prior to the measurement and subsequently determining the amount of solids retained in the filter, the result is expressed in mg/l of solids. Total dissolved solids are accessible by evaporating all the water from the filtrate (liquid that passed through the filter).

An example with detailed description can be found in our waste water application note:

• Total Solids in Wastewater Treatment Process

A solids analyzer works according to the thermo-gravimetric principle, also often referred to as the 'Loss on Drying' (LOD) principle. The solids analyzer consists of two components, a balance unit and a heating unit. In order to measure the solids content the sample's start weight is recorded. Afterwards, a halogen lamp or other infrared radiator heats and dries the sample while the integrated balance continually records the sample weight. When the sample no longer loses weight the instrument shuts off and the total solids content is calculated.

Our soids analyzers meet the moisture and total solids determination needs of quality control, production and in-process control, offering:

• Accurate and reliable results, through precise temperature control with halogen heating and outstanding weighing technology
• Intuitive operation, with step-by-step user guidance to avoid errors in routine operation
• Consistent measurement performance, thanks to the instrument`s robust design and built-in tests, which are supported by our global service network.

Finding the right solids analyzer for your application is not always easy. The best solids analyzer is the one that fits to your specific requirements. Typically, requirements not only concern measurement performance but also other factors such as ease-of-use, data management capabilities, robustness (long instrument lifetime) and compliance features. METTLER TOLEDO offers a wide range of reliable instruments that cover basic, all-round and high-performance requirements.

Get your personalized solids analyzer recommendation here:

• Good Moisture Analysis Practice

The heating source (halogen lamp, metal rod, ceramic, quartz lamp) and its regulation are defined as a heating system. All mentioned heating sources are infrared radiators. This means the sample is heated by absorption of infrared radiation.

The most important performance factor is precise and fast temperature regulation, which is best delivered by halogen lamps because of their low mass and therefore fast reaction time. This ensures repeatable results starting from the first measurement (some other heating sources either deliver different results in the first measurement or require a warm up measurement, which wastes time and resources). Furthermore, an even heat distribution on the sample surface is essential for repeatable and reliable results. We advise you to ask us or another manufacturer for a demonstration in order to experience the performance in real-life.

We recommend the HX204 solids analyzer. It contains a high-performance weighing cell with 0.001% total solids readability separated from the heating source to ensure the best moisture results, even when measuring a substance with very low solids content.

It is possible to control all METTLER TOLEDO solids analyzers remotely, thanks to the comprehensive MT-SICS command set, which is provided as a standard. However, only the HX204 is suitable for automation due to its automatic lid. This allows you to fully automate total solids analysis, including the selection and initiation of different drying methods.

Replacing your existing solids analyzer is an important decision. If you have an old solids analyzer model that we no longer manufacture, we recommend that you consider one of the following solids analyzers as a replacement to ensure optimal performance: 

HR83, HR73 → HX204 

HG63, HG53 → HS153 

HB43-S, HB43, LP16 → HC103