A quality food manufacturing facility needs to maintain a strict weighing process. This will help ensure that all the ingredients are distributed evenly and taste exactly the same. This will also ensure that the food is safe for human consumption.
Static weighing is used for a variety of applications, including logistics and warehousing. It helps to calculate shipping costs, optimize load distribution, and track inventory.
Weighing paper
Weighing paper is a non-sticky, abrasion resistant and moisture-resistant sheet of paper that keeps the balance pan clean and makes the weighing process more precise. It is available in a range of sizes and can be folded into a variety of shapes for different uses. It is often used in chemistry labs for conveying powdery or gelatinous materials to and from the weighing pan, as a liner within containers, or as a temporary surface to support a slide.
When using a weighing paper, make sure to tare it before adding your reagent. This will prevent the weighing boat or paper from being included in the measurement (which can skew results). If the reagent is hazardous, consider placing it into an empty microcentrifuge tube and taring that instead.
Once the weighing paper has been tared, put your substance on it and reread the mass. The result should be a zero reading, as the weight of the weighing paper or reagent will have been subtracted from the initial reading.
Weighing vessel
If you’re weighing solids with an analytical balance, it’s important to use the correct vessels for the process. These should have a minimal surface area to prevent sample loss. Additionally, they should be clean and dry inside and out. This is because even slight temperature differences can produce a varying mass, which is not conducive to accurate weighing.
Chemical substances that are volatile, corrosive or deliquescent must be transferred into pre-tared containers before being placed onto the weighing pan. This will ensure that the weighing instrument is not overloaded or impacted, which can lead to errors in the results.
Using the right vessel for the process also helps to avoid static charges. These can be a significant cause of error in some processes, especially when weighing fine powders. For this reason, COOPER Instruments & Systems offers a range of digital weighing solutions that incorporate a rugged load cell mounted under the weighing vessel. These are made from stainless steel and hermetically sealed to IP68, allowing for fast cleaning and easy installation.
Weighing funnel
The weighing funnel is a device used to help transfer solids from a weighing pan into a volumetric flask. It eliminates the need for weighing paper, and it allows for a sanity check of the amount transferred to the flask. The weighing funnel also prevents minute sample loss during the transfer process.
The design of the weighing funnel is specifically engineered to minimize spillage and contamination. It is made of durable, chemical-resistant polypropylene, making it suitable for a wide range of laboratory applications. It is also easy to clean, making it an ideal tool for transferring samples between containers and even reagent bottles.
Using a weighing funnel is safer and more reliable than the old method of weighing on a piece of glassine paper with a center crease. This technique is also more hygienic than dumping the powder onto a weighing pan. When transferring solids to the weighing funnel, it is recommended that you tap the weigh boat gently with your hand or use a transfer tool to prevent an avalanche of material.
Weighing balance
A weighing balance is a laboratory instrument used to measure the mass of an object. It compares an unknown quantity to a standard quantity and displays the difference as weight. It can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including pharmaceutical labs, new product development, beer brewing, and paint mixing. Weighing balances are available in several different types, including mechanical, electronic, and analytical.
All weighing instruments need careful handling. They should be stored in an area that is free from air currents and temperature fluctuations. They should also be kept away from heating/cooling vents, as they could affect their temperatures and cause a loss of mass calibration. It is important to ensure that the standard weights do not rub against the balance pans or any hard surface. In addition, they should be stored in a dry environment free of corrosive gases and dust.
The analytical balance is so sensitive that it can detect the amount of powdered chemical to within four decimal places. This allows for very precise measurements, ensuring that the results are accurate and reproducible.