Standard Solutions & Buffers

Click here to download this bulletin as a PDF

All Myron L® handheld instruments are factory calibrated with NIST traceable Standard Solutions having specific conductivity/ppm values. Myron L® Company Standard Solutions are made under strictly controlled conditions using reagent grade salts. These salts are mixed with deionized water having a resistivity of at least 5 megohms-cm purity.

Myron L® Company Standard Solutions have an accuracy of +1% based on values published in the International Critical Tables and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The conductivity Standard Solutions and pH Buffers listed to the right are used for factory and/ or user calibration. Regular use of these solutions is recommended to ensure specified instrument accuracy. Frequency of conductivity recalibration depends upon use, but once every month should be sufficient for an instrument used daily. pH models, depending upon use, should be recalibrated with pH 7 Buffer every 1-2 weeks, and checked with pH 4 and/or 10 Buffers at similar intervals. pH Sensor Storage Solution is recommended for keeping the pH sensor hydrated. Consult the owner’s manual of your instrument regarding other indicated solutions. Myron L® solutions are available in quart/1 ltr., gallon/3,8 ltr. and 2 oz./59 ml plastic bottles, ready to use. (Custom value standards only offered in gallon/3,8 ltr. size bottles.)

Conductivity instruments are a convenient way to determine the parts per million of total dissolved solids (ppm/TDS) in boilers, cooling towers, reverse osmosis systems, etc. Although the International Unit (Sl) of measuring conductivity is the microsiemens/ cm (also known as micromhos/cm), a direct reading in ppm/TDS is sometimes preferred.

Myron L® conductivity instruments and monitor/ controllers are calibrated to read in ppm/442, ppm/ NaCI, or microsiemens. All three values are listed on our Standard Solutions. The relationship among these standards can be seen in the table and graphs that follow.

442 Natural Water™ Standard Solution is used in calibrating many Myron L® Instruments. It is the best choice when measuring boiler and cooling water samples, city water supply, lakes, wells, etc. “442” refers to the combination of salts mixed with deionized water to comprise this standard: 40% sodium sulfate, 40% sodium bicarbonate, 20% sodium chloride. A combination of standard salts is necessary since natural water salt type and concentration can vary greatly by location. After much research, the 442™ Standard was developed by the Myron L® Company more than 50 years ago. It remains the world’s most accepted standard.

NaCl Standard Solution is offered to calibrate instruments that measure any sample that is predominately NaCI (sodium chloride), such as sea water, brackish water, dialysate, etc. As can be seen in the graph that follows, 1000 ppm of NaCI has a conductivity of 2000 micromhos. Note how this 1:2 relationship is continuously variable throughout the curve and decreases as ppm NaCI increases.

KCl Standard Solution is used to calibrate conductivity instruments that read directly in microsiemens (micromhos) or millisiemens (1000 microsiemens). KCL (potassium chloride) is a very stable salt and is an international calibration standard for conductivity measurement.

pH Buffer Solutions 4, 7 and 10 are mold inhibited and accurate to within + 0.01 pH units @ 25°C. Myron L® Buffers are traceable to NIST certified pH references and are color-coded for instant identification.

pH Sensor Storage Solution is used to prolong the life of a pH/ORP sensor and to enable a faster response to sample measurements. It consists of a pH 4 Buffer and Potassium Chloride mixture. It also contains an anti-microbial compound to inhibit the growth of microbial organisms.

Reagents, buffers and calibration solutions for alkalinity, hardness and LSI titrations, as well as ORP sensor conditioner and calibration solutions are also available. Contact the Myron L® Company for more information.

The table below lists the Conductivity/TDS equivalent values for Myron L® 442 Natural Water™, NaCl, and KCl conductivity/TDS Standard Solutions.