Spectrophotometer NANOCOLOR Advance

The spectrophotometer NANOCOLOR Advance combines the most important features of our portable compact photometer PF-12Plus and our high-precision spectrophotometer NANOCOLOR VIS II. It provides precise and reliable measurement results in the daily laboratory routine and can also be used mobile due to its rechargeable battery. With its wavelength spectrum of 340–800 nm it allows the measurement of all photometrically evaluable test kits from MACHEREY‑NAGEL. The NANOCOLOR Advance can therefore be used universally in the entire spectrum of water and wastewater analysis.

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Unboxing the NANOCOLOR Advance

The NANOCOLOR Advance is supplied with a wide range of accessories.
The cuvette slot of this spectrophotometer is provided with a cover to protect it against dust and water (IP 68). It is not necessary to cover the cuvette slot during the measurement.
The NANOCOLOR Advance is operated via a colored 5″ touch display. The icon-based menu navigation enables an intuitive operation without extensive training.

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Getting started with the NANOCOLOR Advance

Before using the device for the first time, read the quick start guide and familiarize yourself with all functions of the device. The transport lock of the powerful lithium-ion battery is deactivated by connecting it to the power supply. After switching on the device, you can select the desired language and region. The operation can be done with the fingers, a touch pen and also easily with gloves.
To personalize the start screen, link the icons as favorites on the start screen by pressing and holding them down.
The NANOCOLOR round tubes are recognized by an integrated 2D barcode reader and the associated method is automatically called up.

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Measurements with the NANOCOLOR Advance

For measurements in a cuvette size other than 16 mm, simply change the cuvette adapter. Select the test with just a few clicks from a method list, by entering the test number or from a user-defined favorites menu. Then follow the instructions on the device's display and receive high-precision measurement results clearly presented.

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General information

In contrast to a filter photometer, the exact wavelength in a spectrophotometer is isolated from the incoming, polychromatic light by a monochromator. The monochromator is an optical component. The polychromatic light is fanned out with the help of a reflective grating. Through a narrow slit, only a small wavelength range of the light is allowed to pass in the direction of the cuvette. This setting absorbs the unwanted wavelengths.
With a spectrophotometer, it is also possible to carry out a scan over the entire wavelength range and thus record an absorption spectrum of the substance. Absorption maxima are recognized directly. In addition, any wavelength from the whole absorption spectrum of the light source can be used during the measurement.
The NANOCOLOR Advance enables an evaluation of all photometrically evaluable MACHEREY-NAGEL test kits:

• VISOCOLOR ECO
• VISOCOLOR Powder Pillows
• NANOCOLOR ECO
• NANOCOLOR tube tests
• NANOCOLOR standard tests

Due to the large variety of available wavelengths, in addition to the rapid tests from the MACHEREY-NAGEL portfolio, a number of special applications can also be carried out in the NANOCOLOR Advance. In addition to a number of preprogrammed methods, the user also has a menu available for programming customer-specific applications.

Preprogrammed methods:

• Nephelometric turbidity measurement; 860 nm; 1 – 1000 NTU
• Formazin Attenuation Units; 550 nm; 1 – 100 FAU
• Formazin Attenuation Units; 860 nm; 2 – 400 FAU
• Spectral absorption coefficient 436 nm; 0.1 – 150 1/m
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS); 800 nm; 5 – 750 mg/L
• Color APHA 2120 C/Hazen; 455 nm; 5 – 500 mg/L Pt
• Color ISO 7887B; 436, 520, 620 nm; 0.2 – 20 1/m
• Color ISO 7887C; 410 nm; 5 – 500 mg/L Pt

User-specific programming:

• Single wavelength measurement and factor input
• Multi wavelength measurement with calculation and factor input
• Method calibration by entering absorbance-concentration value pairs
• Calibration method by measuring concentration series

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Tips and tricks — Common sources of error

Incorrect measurement results due to contaminated cuvettes:

• The cleanliness of the cuvettes plays a decisive role in the measurement result. Clean the cuvettes with the help of the enclosed cuvette cleaning cloth each time before inserting them into the cuvette slot.

Incorrect measurement results due to a contaminated cuvette slot:

• The leakage of sample solution into the cuvette slot can contaminate it and negatively influence the measurement results. When inserting the cuvettes, make sure that no sample solution overflows. The height of the beam path in the NANOCOLOR Advance is 8.5 mm. It is therefore sufficient to fill a rectangular cuvette 2/3 full with liquid. In case sample solution gets into the cuvette slot, you can carefully clean it with a cotton swab and isopropanol. Never use metallic or sharp objects for cleaning.

Error due to neglected device checks and maintenance:

• According to the requirements of most lab QC guidelines, the photometer should be checked twice a year. To check the photometric accuracy the test solution NANOCONTROL NANOCHECK 2.0 (REF 925703) can be used. The correctness of the turbidity measurement can be checked with NANOCONTROL NANOTURB (REF 925702). In addition, further measures can be taken to monitor the device performance (e.g. lamp check or wavelength accuracy test, see manual).
• MACHEREY-NAGEL recommends to set your own inspection intervals depending on the intensity of use and in accordance with your own internal quality specifications.

Wrong cuvette detection due to incorrect insertion of the cuvette:

• Due to the universal cuvette slot, the NANOCOLOR Advance allows you to work with 10 mm, 20 mm and 50 mm rectangular/standard cuvettes and 13 mm (adapter required; REF 919760), 16 mm and 24 mm round tubes. The device automatically recognizes the inserted cuvette. In order to simplify the insertion of 10 mm cuvettes independent from the user, MACHEREY-NAGEL offers a cuvette fixation for 10 mm rectangular cuvettes (REF 919136).

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