Baume Range Hydrometers
Hydrometers are used, among other things, in the production of alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer or wine) to measure the exact density of the liquid before and after fermentation and thus to determine the alcohol content (in percent by volume). Kimble Hydrometers are manufactured from glass in accordance with ASTM standards for use in market segments including petrochemical, environmental, pharmaceutical, and the food & beverage industry. The devices are floated in a liquid sample, and a graduated scale is read to measure the relative density or specific gravity of the solution in units appropriate to the application. In order to produce a more environmentally friendly instrument, the ballast is made from steel pellets plus a binder, and is free of heavier, toxic metals. Finally, the certificate of traceability included with each Kimble® hydrometer indicates that they are manufactured using devices calibrated using NIST traceable standards.
The Baume scale originally was used in industrial chemistry and pharmacology, but today it is used in brewing, winemaking, sugar beet processing, ophthalmics, and the starch industry. Although specific gravity is a dimensionless number, the Baume scale is graduated in degrees Baume. According to Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook (8th Edition), °Be’ = 145 – 145/sp gr (heavier than water), and °Be’ = 140/sp gr - 130 (lighter than water).