2. Introduction
• Honoured with the prestigious India Design Mark, Microlit
E-Burette is an advanced motor-operated burette, designed
keeping ergonomics and intuitive handling in mind.
• It offers various sophisticated features and functionality like
motor-controlled piston movement, a touch screen enabled
control panel with graphical user interface (GUI) and three
calibrated pre-set speeds to perform automated and
therefore, highly accurate titrations.
3. Development Process of Microlit E-Burette
Let’s delve into the fascinating development story of a high precision electronic burette like Microlit
E-burette and understand the extensive research and effort that went into its making
1
Market
Research and
Analysis
The Optimum,
Aesthetic
Design
Approach
3
Final Product
Testing and
Result
Validation
4
Control of
Design and
Development
Changes
5
The New and
Improved
Solution
6
Design and
Development
Planning
2
4. 1. Market Research and Analysis
● Before developing a new product, Microlit undertakes a
series of design and development activities that analyses
market surveys and addresses customer requirements.
● According to the customer needs, the existing model is
improved or a new product/model is created with the right
technological features in place.
● For Microlit E-burette, we began by looking at the most
commonly available titration instruments in the market –
Glass Burettes and Digital Burettes.
5. What is Titration?
Titration involves determining the
concentration of a solution with the help of
another solution with known concentration.
Typically, the titrant (the known solution) is
added using a burette to a known quantity of
the analyte (the second solution) until the
reaction is complete. Often, a visual indicator
(buffer or pH solution) is used to signal the
completion (end-point).
1. Market Research and Analysis
6. Commonly Used Burettes
Glass Burette
• A glass burette is a low-cost instrument, used to carry out
titrations for delivering measured volumes of a solution of
known concentration.
• Typically available in the form of a long, graduated glass
tube with a tap and a stopcock at its lower end that
controls the flow from the tube to the tip of the burette.
• There’s a tapered capillary tube at the stopcock’s outlet.
The difference in the initial volume and the final volume
of the solution in the burette reflects the amount of
solution consumed.
1. Market Research and Analysis
7. Digital Burette
• A digital burette is a relatively high-cost instrument with
more sophisticated features than that of a glass burette.
• It can be connected to a computer and its titration readings
can be saved on the same. In digital burettes, a high
precision piston is used to deliver aliquots.
• While titrating, the barrel of a digital burette is held in a fixed
position, and the plunger is moved incrementally in one
direction manually by turning the knob. The volume gets
displayed on a digital screen.
Commonly Used Burettes
1. Market Research and Analysis
8. Our assessment of the two burettes
• We noted that both of these burettes provide readings, that more often than
not, give unassured accuracy due to numerous factors.
• One common and major point that applies to both is the
inaccuracy/inconsistency arising due to manual wheel operation. And, as
mentioned in ISO 8655-6, Section 7.7.2, dispensing results are largely
affected by the piston speed in all kinds of piston operated volumetric
dispensing devices.
1. Market Research and Analysis
Source: www.iso.org
9. Drawbacks of Glass Burette
● Filling a glass burette: A glass burette is typically a
long, cylindrical tube. Manually pouring the titrant is
inconvenient and might lead to spilling. It is also
time consuming as one needs to frequently check the
quantity of titrant filled.
● Interpreting meniscus: Parallax errors are very
common while working with glass burettes.
● The dispensing speed near the end point: Since this
has to be controlled manually, the chances of error in
the end-point increase manifold
Drawbacks of Digital Burette
● Filling a digital burette: The procedure is tiresome
and inconvenient as it involves repetitive manual
wheel rotations.
● User-dependent piston movement: Inconsistent
piston speed and/or incorrect volume dispensing
near the end-point increase the chances of
inaccuracy in the final reading.
We aimed to design a high precision electronic burette that would overcome the challenges
posed by glass and digital burettes.
1. Market Research and Analysis
10. 2. Design & Development
• All the design & development activities are controlled by the Director
– R&D. Every stage is adequately identified and brainstormed. A
thorough market analysis, by Microlit’s R&D team, takes care of all
that goes into generating accurate readings.
• We take great care in collecting first-hand, real-time experiences from
regular users of the existing equipment.
• The designing stage for Microlit E-burette started with sketches that
showed the adaptation of new technology, primarily catering to
attaining an accurate & precise end-points. Moulds and trial samples
were then prepared and a performance test deemed the equipment
fit for use.
11. 3. The Optimum, Aesthetic Design Approach
● The updated sketches and manufacturing processes of
Microlit E-Burette factored in all its functional and
performance requirements.
● Design & development outputs were provided in the
form of final drawings, first sample and trial sample. The
output was verified so as to satisfy the input
requirements.
12. 4. Final Product Testing and Result Validation
• At all the design & development stages, there is a diligent review, verification and validation. Responsibility and
authority for design & development work are determined, clearly mentioning the interfaces between the various
groups involved to ensure effective communication and clear assignment of responsibility.
• All the stages are suitably reviewed under the guidance of Director – R&D. These reviews include the identification of
problems and necessary actions on them. The results of all such reviews are then recorded.
• The verification is performed to ensure that the development outputs have met development inputs requirements.
Records of the results of the verification & any necessary action are also maintained.
• Microlit E-Burette, made as per the design, was validated to fulfil the output requirements. The validation activities
were completed prior to the delivery of the product to the labs.
13. 5. Control of Design and Development Changes
• We recorded the design changes resulting from stage-wise
reviews. We then moved on to incorporate these changes into
the original design after suitable review and the impact of such
changes on the final product.
• All the steps involved in changes, reviews and actions were also
documented.
14. 6. The New, Improved Solution
• The automated, motorized Microlit E-Burette is an innovative design solution. Its
accuracy is higher than that offered by both digital and glass burettes. There is a
negligible chance of human error due to automation of most of the work.
• Its motor controlled piston movement, a new technology, eliminates the limitations of
digital burettes and glass burettes that dispense manually. The user-friendly
touchscreen guides quick, accurate titrations, displaying numeric data up to the
second decimal.
• It also offers a choice to work at pre-set speeds during titrations including dropwise
dispensing which helps in achieving the endpoint with high accuracy, bringing down
human error and making the instrument a ‘Real Automated Motorized Burette’.
15. Microlit E-Burette’s Exclusive & Advanced Features
(i) Pre-set Speeds for Dispensing
• High Speed Dispensing: Dispenses at 2.20 ml/sec
• Low Speed Dispensing: Dispenses at 0.75 ml/sec
• Dropwise Dispensing: Dispenses at 0.025 ml/sec
The dropwise dispensing option is a remarkable feature of Microlit E-burette. When a user
is about to reach the end-point of a titration experiment, s/he can opt for this mode to
dispense droplets as small as 0.01 ml and record a highly accurate end-point. Please note
that neither glass nor digital burettes can provide a controlled and consistent dropwise
increment as low as 0.01 ml in volume.
(ii) Motor Controlled Piston Movement
The Motor Controlled Piston Movement of Microlit E-burette rules out the effort invested in
manual wheel operation and hence, any inconsistencies arising due to the variation in its
speed. This ensures high accuracy and precision.
16. Microlit E-Burette’s Exclusive & Advanced Features
(iii) One-Touch Filling
Unlike Glass and Digital Burettes where filling the instrument is inconvenient,
time-consuming and involves manual work, in the case of Microlit E-burette, all you
need to do is touch the Control Panel once to fill it automatically and effortlessly in less
than 10 seconds.
(iv) Save Readings Conveniently
A user can save up to 20 readings (of a titration experiment) on the instrument memory
of Microlit E-burette. These saved readings can also be transferred to a computer and
printed directly. Further, these readings can be saved in the form of an excel sheet for
further calculations and/or future reference.
(v) Digital Read-outs
Unlike Glass Burettes, where parallax errors are imminent, Microlit E-burette displays its
readings on a digital screen which further brings down the scope of inaccuracy.
17. About Microlit
Empowering Laboratory Routines Since 1991
We design and develop high precision liquid handling instruments for leading laboratories in the healthcare and life
sciences industry worldwide. Serving customers in 65+ countries, we are recognized as a respected and dependable
brand, offering Bottle Top Dispensers, Electronic Burettes, Micropipettes, Miniature Micropipettes and Electronic Pipette
Filling Instruments including accessories like Stands and Tips for Micropipettes.
For more information regarding our products and services, visit us at www.microlit.com or write to us at
info@microlit.com.
