MicroDens portable density meter

Technical specifications

The main specifications of MicroDens:

• Density: 0.600 to 1.200 g/cm³, resolution 0.00001 g/cm³, accuracy ±0.0001 g/cm³
• Alcohol by volume: 0.00 to 100.00% v/v, accuracy ±0.1% v/v
• Sample temperature: −10 to +60 °C, accuracy 0.1 °C, results compensated to 20 °C
• Viscosity: measurements calibrated up to 5 mPa·s
• Minimum sample volume: 1 mL
• Battery life: 10 hours continuous use; 100 hours on standby

MicroDens is a portable digital density meter for laboratories and production departments in wineries, breweries, distilleries and the food industry. It measures density with an oscillating tube and converts the result into alcoholic strength, sugar content, extract or concentration, so that density and concentration can be measured directly where they are needed.

With a resolution of 0.00001 g/cm³ (five decimal places) and an accuracy of 0.0001 g/cm³ (four decimal places), MicroDens is currently the only portable density meter on the market to offer this level of precision.

The instrument works with a 1 mL sample drawn in with a single key and refers all results to 20 °C by temperature compensation. Its predefined methods follow the reference methods of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the OIML R 22 International Alcoholometric Tables and, for spirits measured at 60 °F, the US TTB tables.

Key Features and Benefits

5-digit resolution and 4-digit accuracy in a portable instrument

MicroDens displays density with a resolution of 0.00001 g/cm³ and measures it with an accuracy of ±0.0001 g/cm³ and a repeatability of 0.00005 g/cm³.

Oscillating-tube measurement referenced to OIV methods

MicroDens determines density by electronic densimetry with an oscillating tube, based on method B of OIV-MA-AS2-01 for density and specific gravity at 20 °C and OIV-MA-AS312-01 for alcoholic strength by volume. Alcoholic strength is calculated from density using the OIML R 22 tables, as required by OIV-MA-BS-01 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2870/2000.

Methods for wine, beer, spirits and liquid foods

The Food & Beverage package covers the main parameters of beverage production:

• Wine and must: alcoholic strength, dry extract and sugar content in °Brix, °Babo/KMW, °Baumé and °Oechsle
• Beer: original and final gravity, extract in °Plato, real extract, alcohol by volume (ABV), alcohol by weight (ABW) and attenuation
• Spirits and liqueurs: density and alcoholic strength at 20 °C, US Proof and % v/v at 60 °F
• Juices, syrups and brines: concentration of sucrose, glucose, fructose, glycerol, propylene glycol and NaCl

You can add up to 20 methods of your own.

SmartStabilizer and five measurement modes

The SmartStabilizer function detects the sample automatically and distinguishes a measurement from cleaning or a change of sample; a result is marked as “Detected” when successive fillings agree. Five measurement modes (Precise, Fast, Manual, Slow and Viscous) adapt the measurement to the sample. Results are calibrated for samples up to 5 mPa·s.

Built-in quality control

Quality-control limits can be set for each product, and values outside the tolerance are shown on a red background so that they are recognised immediately. Menu settings can be protected with a PIN to prevent unintended changes to methods and parameters.

Data storage and connectivity

MicroDens stores up to 2000 sets of measured data and transfers them via USB-C or Bluetooth. The free PC software (MicroDens Data Logger, MicroDens USB Extractor and MicroDens Script Runner for configuration and firmware) supports data export and instrument set-up; MicroDens Logger Pro is available under licence.

Measure at the tank, fermenter or still

MicroDens weigh 380 g and runs for 10 hours on one charge, so you can take it to the tank, fermenter or still as well as use it in the laboratory. It has a 2.8-inch colour touch display and Viton seals.

Standard package

The standard package of MicroDens includes:

• Transport case: plastic
• Instrument: MicroDens portable density meter
• Power supply: Li-Pol battery pack, 3.7 V, 2500 mAh
• Sampling: 2 filling tubes
• Software: MicroDens Data Logger, MicroDens USB Extractor and MicroDens Script Runner, free of charge
• Bluetooth: USB Bluetooth dongle

Applications

Wineries, breweries, distilleries and food producers use MicroDens for:

• Alcoholic strength of wine and spirits (on the distillate)
• Beer fermentation monitoring in °Plato
• Brewing: original gravity, real extract and attenuation
• Concentration of juices, syrups and brines in °Brix or %
• Label verification and quality control of spirits and liqueurs
• Milk and dairy quality control
• Must ripeness and sugar content (°Brix, °Babo, °Baumé, °Oechsle)
• Wine dry extract determination

Additional technical data

The technical data sheet also lists:

• Measurement modes: Precise, Fast, Manual, Slow, Viscous
• Data memory: 2000 sets of measured data
• Interfaces: USB-C, Bluetooth
• Dimensions (L × W × H) / weight: 320 × 100 × 65 mm / 380 g
• Measuring principle: oscillating tube, based on method B of OIV-MA-AS2-01 and OIV-MA-AS312-01

Options

MicroDens can be extended with:

• Licensed software: MicroDens Logger Pro, with an optional Fermentation module for wine and beer (licensed separately)

Important notes

The real alcoholic strength of wines and spirits is determined on the distillate, for example from our automatic lab distiller. The Spirits US method is intended for quality control and label verification and does not replace instruments approved for the fiscal determination of proof; for Canada (strength at 20 °C), the Ethanol method applies. MicroDens is not suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Downloads

The full technical data are listed in the data sheet: MicroDens - Technical sheet