To make sure your pH electrodes always give you reliable results, you need to calibrate them daily, weekly or prior to using them. By performing the calibration, you can ensure that the electrodes are in good working condition. Below is a quick and easy procedure for electrode diagnostics.
 

• Required Solutions
  • pH 7.00 Buffer
  • pH 4.01 Buffer
  • pH Electrode Filling Solution
  • Deionized water (as DI water)

Refer to the flowchart to find the matching electrode symptom, the corresponding change from the initial resistance value, the possible causes, and suggested corrective actions. For detailed recommended corrective action procedures (as referenced in Table 2 and the Figure 1 of the flowchart) see below:


Figure 1 pH Electrode Troubleshooting Flow Chart

Table 1 electrode symptom

Symptom	Possible Causes	Next step (Corrective action)
① Won't auto calibrate (cannot run auto calibration with pH 4.01, 7.00, and 10.01 buffers)	Short circuit (glass bulb cracked/or stem/or outer body; damaged cable or BNC connector, moisture intrusion)	Replace the electrode
	Bad buffer solution	Use fresh, unexpired buffers
	Wrong buffer set in setup	Choose the correct buffer set. Meter is auto-recognizing USA or China GB/EURO pH buffers set (see Tables 1), depending on the selected set in setup.
	Damaged (scratched) glass bulb by soil or sand samples; aged glass bulb Chemically damaged bulb, e.g., due to exposure of the electrode to ammonium bifluoride or hydrofluoric acid for long period of time (hours)	Check electrode performance
	Dehydrated/dried glass bulb (after ethanol samples, organic solvents, etc. or dry storage)	Rehydrate pH bulb
	Dirty bulb, clogged junction	Clean the electrode
	Dried gel (only non-refillable gel electrodes)	Replace the electrode
	Dirty or contaminated glass bulb; Severely clogged or sealed junction	Clean electrode and check performance
② pH and mV readings in pH 4.01 and pH 7.00 buffers are the same	Short circuit (glass bulb cracked/or stem/or outer body; damaged cable or BNC connector, moisture intrusion)	Replace the electrode
③ Slope is bad (out of 92 -102% range or mV difference between readings in pH 4 and pH 7 is not within 160-180 mV)	Short circuit (glass bulb cracked/or stem/or outer body; damaged cable or BNC connector, moisture intrusion); Dried gel (only non-refillable gel electrodes)	Replace the electrode (see procedure # 1)
	Damaged or aged bulb	Check electrode performance
	Dirty bulb	Clean the electrode
	Buffers not fresh or out of expired	Use fresh, not expired buffers
	Severely clogged or sealed junction	Clean electrode and check performance
	Dehydrated/dried glass bulb (after ethanol samples, organic solvents, etc. or dry storage)	Rehydrate pH bulb
④ Slow response, drift (for example, reading changes with time, cal check is not within criteria)	Aged electrode	Check electrode performance
	Dry bulb	Rehydrate pH bulb
	Dried gel (only non-refillable gel electrodes)	Replace the electrode
	Severely clogged or sealed junction	Clean the electrode
	Clogged junction	Clean electrode and check performance

How to Check Electrode Performance

1. Change the measurement mode to read mV.

2. Although it is not always required, it is best to begin calibration with pH 7 buffer.

3. Rinse the pH electrode with DI water and then with pH 7 buffer solution - place the electrode into pH 7 buffer at room temperature (20 - 25ºC).

4. Wait for the reading to stabilize and record the mV value.

5. Rinse electrode with DI water.

6. Repeat the same steps to record mV reading in the pH 4.01 buffer.

7. Refer to follow Table 2 to verify that mV reading is ± 30 mV from the theoretical mV reading of the buffer.

8. If mV readings are out of range, replace the electrode. If mV readings are correct, perform the corrective action to clean the electrode.

Table 2 the theoretical mV reading of the buffer

US standard		China, GB, EU standard
Buffer pH	mV range	Buffer pH	mV range
1.68	+285 ~  +345	1.68	+285 ~  +345
4.01	+207 ~ +147	4.01	+207 ~ +147
7.00	-30 ~ +30	6.86	+38 ~ -22
10.01	-207 ~ -147	9.18	-99 ~ -159
12.46	-293 ~ -353

How to Clean the Electrode?

Clean the electrode with  the appropriate cleaning solution. Soak overnight in pH 4 buffer, rinse with DI water and recalibrate in fresh buffers. If all these steps failed, replace the electrode.

How to Rehydrate the pH Bulb?

Rehydrate the sensing bulb in pH 4 buffer (overnight soak is recommended). Store the electrode in appropriate pH storage solution (3M KCl solution).