Refractometer for Testing Urea-Based Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF / AdBlue^®) Concentration

The DEFinitive choice in DEF Testing.

The MISCO digital refractometer is the ideal instrument for testing DEF to prevent the use of fluid that is outside expected values. MISCO refractometers meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM D7821 – 12, Standard Test Method for Field Test Determination of Urea Concentration in Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

The American Petroleum Institute (API), a non-profit trade association and advocacy group for the petroleum and natural gas industry, is charged with certifying producers of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) for Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) equipped diesel engines in North America. The best way to ensure a suitable DEF fluid is only to purchase urea, which carries API certification, and frequently test the fluid with a MISCO refractometer to make sure that it meets quality specifications.

Urea Refractometer for Testing Urea-Based Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF / AdBlue) Concentration

The proper concentration of Urea in Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is crucial to mitigating harmful NOx emissions and prolonging the life of expensive SCR components.

A refractometer will DEFeat those seeking to DEFraud.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) has been a reality for trucks, buses, and highway vehicles powered by diesel engines for some time. Tier IV guidelines now affect off-road equipment, such as excavators, bulldozers, skid steers, commercial construction equipment, farm tractors and agricultural equipment, heavy forklifts, and airport ground service equipment. Even diesel-powered stationary equipment such as generators, pumps, and compressors will be required to meet emission requirements.

To comply with EPA regulations, engine manufacturers use Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, which requires an exact concentration of liquid urea (DEF) to operate correctly. Selective Catalytic Reduction systems utilize liquid urea, a nitrogen-based compound, to treat diesel exhaust gases before entering the catalytic converter. The fluid is known as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in the US and AdBlue in Europe. It consists of a precise concentration of aqueous urea in demineralized water. Injected into the hot exhaust gases as a fine mist, urea turns to ammonia and converts harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) into harmless nitrogen and water vapor.

The best DEFense against diluted DEF.

The proper concentration of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is crucial to mitigating harmful NOx emissions and prolonging the life of expensive SCR components. Even concentration variations of as little as +/-0.8% will prevent a DEF fluid from meeting the specifications mandated by the International Standards Organization (ISO). DEF dilution or contamination can impact system performance and maintenance costs. The biggest contamination threat is water dilution, but it is nearly impossible to know if a DEF supply is diluted without the proper tools. 

Get DEFinite results in just seconds.

A MISCO digital refractometer is the ideal method for testing DEF fluid to ensure it is at the correct concentration and has not been tampered with or diluted. It only takes a few drops of DEF and a couple of seconds to perform a test, and the results are precise to +/-0.1% urea concentration. 

Once you place a few drops of the sample into the stainless-steel sample-well, it only takes the press of a single button to initiate a test. Within seconds, the urea concentration is displayed on the large 24-character backlit LCD display. The refractometer can be calibrated to water with the press of a button.