WHAT IS TITRATION?

Titration is a quantitative analytical technique used to determine the precise concentration of an unknown compound or purity of a substance by using a solution of known concentration, called titrant. During titration, the titrant is carefully added drop by drop to the dissolved sample, either manually using a glass burette or with a titrator. The titration process continues until enough titrant has reacted with all the analyte in the sample. The point at which an excess of titrant ions is identified, either by a change in indicator color or electric potential, is known as the ‘equivalence point’ or ‘endpoint’. By calculating the volume of titrant consumed, the exact amount of the analyte can be determined.

KARL FISCHER (KF) TITRATION

Karl Fischer titration is a widely used method in quality control, production, research, and development to measure the water content in solid, liquid, or gas samples. The presence of water can negatively impact the quality, stability, and other physical and chemical properties of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products. This method offers rapid and accurate quantification of water content in various substances, ranging from 10 ppm to 100%. Precise water determination is crucial to comply with pharmacopoeias, food regulations, ISO guidelines, and ASTM methods, ensuring the quality and stability of raw materials and finished goods.

KARL FISCHER TITRATION METHODS

Both volumetric and coulometric Karl Fischer titration methods employ bi-potentiometric endpoint detection to measure the iodine consumed by water in the sample. The presence of excess iodine in the titration cell triggers a potential change, indicating the completion of the titration. At this stage, the addition or generation of iodine is halted. The coulometric method is preferred for samples with low water content and for liquid samples, while the volumetric method is suitable for both solid and liquid samples and can also handle higher water content.