How Xylem provides precise Brix control in the soft drinks industry

Britain’s soft drinks industry relies on RFM340 digital refractometers from Xylem to help ensure profitability by precisely controlling concentrate yields.

The UK soft drinks market remains a lucrative industry valued at over £10 billion annually and it comes as no surprise that companies are looking for the best form of controlling dilution ratio and ensuring that final products meet stringent quality control protocols.

Did you know that nine out of the top ten manufacturers rely on Xylem’s Bellingham + Stanley brand RFM refractometers as their first-choice laboratory instrumentation?

Refractometers are used to measure the total dissolved solids (TDS) of a liquid and commonly express the result as Brix (sucrose % by weight in an aqueous solution). Since beverages are mostly composed of sugar dissolved in water, the Brix value (also known as the apparent Brix) provides an easy way to monitor the dilution ratio of sugar-based drinks.

Refractometers are robust and extremely easy to use. Unlike density meters, fruit pulp or bubbles have negligible effects on the reading (although simple degassing is recommended for carbonated beverages), and results are provided in as little as 10 seconds. Importantly, controlling the dilution ratio of expensive ingredients such as syrups to the lowest possible limit, without risking crossing its threshold and therefore compromising taste, presents an opportunity to increase profits by maximizing yield.

For diet beverages containing little or no sugar, an alternative “marker” must be chosen to control dilution. Typically, an ingredient such as citric or phosphoric acid is targeted via titration. This is why it's common to see an auto-titrator, such as Xylem’s TitroLine^® 7000 with an interchangeable burette, alongside a refractometer in the lab. This combination not only measures the acid content of sugar-based beverages but also assists with dilution control in so-called “diet” or “zero sugar” drinks.

Artisan producers are not overlooked. Xylem’s OPTi^® handheld refractometers offer a digital readout ranging from 0 to 95 Brix, automatically compensated to 20 °C. When paired with the entry-level TitroLine^® 5000 auto-titrator, this budget-friendly combination of instrumentation provides an essential stepping stone for producers looking to enhance their production capabilities with confidence.