Karl Fischer Oven

Karl Fischer Oven

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A Karl Fischer oven is a heating device used together with a Karl Fischer moisture analyzer. It is commonly used to extract moisture from samples and assist the Karl Fischer moisture analyzer in testing the moisture content of samples. The Karl Fischer oven is also called a KF oven, KF auxiliary heating device, Karl Fischer heating unit, Karl Fischer heating furnace, Karl Fischer drying oven, gas-phase moisture extractor, or Karl Fischer sample heating oven.

For samples that cannot be added directly to the electrolytic cell, gas-phase extraction is a perfect solution. The sample is placed in a sample boat/vial, moved into the heating oven or sample rack, and heated to a specific temperature (up to 300˚C). The moisture is extracted and transferred to the titration vessel by dry air or nitrogen, and the moisture concentration is then measured by the Karl Fischer analyzer.

Karl Fischer ovens are classified by automation level into manual-sampling and fully automatic sampling Karl Fischer ovens; by number of stations, they are divided into single-station, 12-station, 20-station, 36-station and other Karl Fischer ovens.

Gas-Phase Extraction with the Karl Fischer Oven Explained

WKT-V2 Karl Fischer Oven Moisture Determination System in the Field

Gas-Phase Extraction in the Field

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Gas-Phase Extraction Method

Among all chemical methods for determining moisture in substances, the Karl Fischer method is the most specific and accurate for water. Improved in recent years with greater accuracy and an expanded measuring range, it has been adopted as the standard method for moisture determination in many substances.Learn About the Karl Fischer Moisture Analyzer.

When measuring moisture in samples with a Karl Fischer moisture analyzer, general samples can be added directly to the electrolytic/titration cell for simple, accurate testing. However, some samples cannot be added directly to the sample/titration cell because their moisture cannot be released naturally or they react side-wise with Karl Fischer reagent — such as powdered, granular, viscous, or oxidizing inorganic salts.

Which Samples Cannot Be Added Directly to the Sample Cell

The gas-phase extraction method can conveniently and accurately determine the moisture content of solid, powder, granular, or viscous samples, such as:

Substances whose moisture must be released by heating: powdered or granular plastic products
Substances that react side-wise with Karl Fischer reagent: oxidizing inorganic salts
Highly adhesive substances: fibers or pastes
Hard-to-dissolve or insoluble substances: lubricating oil, wool, flour, tar, or coal

A Simple Solution

The VicoMeter Karl Fischer oven system easily heats samples in the sample boat to "100-300°C"; the water vapor is transferred by carrier gas into the electrolytic cell of the Karl Fischer moisture analyzer and rapidly absorbed by the Karl Fischer reagent, enabling accurate moisture determination of low-moisture or low-density samples with ease.

The rugged and durable design of the VicoMeter Karl Fischer oven ensures trouble-free sample handling and correct results. The sample vial is placed in the oven body, where it is continuously heated from the bottom and all sides, ensuring uniform temperature distribution. The moisture released from the sample is transferred to the titration vessel via the carrier gas. A specially designed rubber stopper ensures a perfect seal with no vapor escape, achieving a recovery rate of up to 100% and guaranteeing accurate results from the subsequent Karl Fischer analyzer measurement.

WKT-V2 Karl Fischer Oven Moisture Measurement System

WKT-V2 Karl Fischer Oven System

Single-Station Karl Fischer Oven

The VicoMeter "Volcano" series WKT-V2 Karl Fischer oven is the fourth-generation Karl Fischer oven refined through multiple improvements, featuring a more user-friendly and streamlined touch operating system.

The name "Volcano" carries an extraordinary meaning: volcano represents the powerful heating force of the V2 Karl Fischer oven. Compared with other Karl Fischer ovens on the market, the V2 reaches a higher heating temperature — up to 300°C — fully releasing moisture from all insoluble samples. "Volcano" embodies VicoMeter's persistent pursuit of stable, efficient, and high-temperature heating in Karl Fischer ovens!

The VicoMeter "Volcano" series WKT-V2 Karl Fischer oven, paired with a dedicated moisture analyzer, is suitable for moisture determination of all kinds of insoluble samples (battery materials, plastics & rubber, lubricating greases, pharmaceutical materials, new materials, moisture-regaining samples, and samples with volatile components), and is well proven in the plastics, battery, new materials, medical, and electronics industries!

Fully Automatic Multi-Station Karl Fischer Oven

For users with fast production rhythms and high sample testing frequency, a simple single-station Karl Fischer oven can no longer meet production realities. On one hand, the delay of batch measurement (relatively low efficiency) seriously affects production schedules and may even cause shutdowns; on the other hand, increasing the number of instruments and testing personnel inevitably requires huge investment.

Against this background, the fully automatic multi-station Karl Fischer oven emerged. It not only connects easily with Karl Fischer moisture analyzers, but also allows custom sample sequences — one-touch start for fully automatic sampling and fully automatic sample moisture determination, solving the problem of low testing efficiency.

At present, common fully automatic multi-station Karl Fischer ovens come in 12-station, 20-station, 36-station and other specifications.