Turbidimetry

Turbidimetry (the name being derived from turbidity) is the process of measuring the loss of intensity of transmitted light due to the scattering effect of particles suspended in it. Light is passed through a filter creating a light of known wavelength which is then passed through a cuvette containing a solution. A photoelectric cell collects the light which passes through the cuvette. A measurement is then given for the amount of absorbed light.{{cite book |title=Laboratory Instrumentation |author1=Mary C. Haven |author2=Gregory A. Tetrault |author3=Jerald R. Schenken |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |year=1994 |isbn=0471285722 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z9SzvsSCHv4C}}

Turbidimetry can be used in biology to find the number of cells in a suspension.{{cite book |title=Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students |author1=D. M. Vasudevan |author2=DM Vasudevan |author3=S Sreekumari |author4=Vaidyanathan Kannan |publisher=Jaypee Medical Publishers |edition=6th |year=2010 |isbn=978-9350250167}}

Turbidity-is an expression of optical look of a suspension caused by radiation to the scattered and absorbed wavelength. Scattering of light is elastic so both incident and scattered radiation have same wavelength.

A turbidometer measures the amount of radiation that passes through a fluid in forward direction, analogous to absorption spectrophotometry.

Standard for turbidimetry is prepared by dissolving 5g of hydrazinium (2+) sulfate(N2H4H2SO4) and 50g of hexamethylenetertramine in 1liter of distilled water is defined as 4000 nephelometric Turbidity Unit(NTU)

Application

Determination of water

Clarity of pharma products and drinks

Immunoassay in lab

Turbidimetry offers little advantage than nephelometry in measurement of sensitivity in low level antigen a antibody immunoassay.

Antigen excess and matrix effects are limitations encountered