Turbidity analysis

Turbidity analysis measures the opacity of a liquid by evaluating the scattering of light caused by suspended particles. This parameter is fundamental for characterizing the visual quality, stability, and purity of a wide range of products in the food, beverage, cosmetics, environmental, nutraceutical, and plant extract sectors. Turbidity directly reflects the presence of organic or mineral particles, colloids, microorganisms, or precipitates that can alter product quality or disrupt processing.

Understanding turbidity and its industrial implications

Turbidity is an essential indicator for manufacturers seeking to control product clarity, identify the onset of physical instabilities, or ensure regulatory compliance, particularly in the areas of drinking water and environmental discharges. An increase in turbidity can reveal the presence of unwanted particles, product degradation, poor filtration, or emulsion instability. Conversely, controlled turbidity is often synonymous with quality, stability, and homogeneity. In beverages and plant extracts, it allows for the assessment of clarity; in cosmetics, it provides information on the stability of emulsions; and in the environment, it is a crucial criterion for monitoring water resources.

Analytical methods: turbidimetry and associated standards

The analysis is generally performed by turbidimetry, using a turbidimeter to measure the intensity of light scattered by particles. The nephelometric method, expressed in NTUs (Nephelometric Turbidity Units), is the most widely used for regulatory and industrial monitoring. It offers high sensitivity, particularly for low turbidity levels. Depending on the requirements, other approaches can be employed, such as measuring optical transmission or using a spectrophotometer for more specific analyses.

These methods allow for the early detection of aggregation, precipitation, contamination or degradation phenomena, as well as for evaluating the effectiveness of clarification, filtration, decantation or stabilization processes.

Matrices analyzed and industrial applications

Turbidity analysis is applicable to a wide variety of products. In the food industry, it is used to monitor the clarity of juices, syrups, infusions, plant-based milks, and fortified beverages. In cosmetics, it helps assess the stability of lotions, micellar solutions, and liquid skincare products. In nutraceuticals and plant extracts, it provides information on the presence of residual particles and the quality of the extraction process. In the environmental field, it is a key indicator for drinking water, process water, and industrial wastewater.

This analysis is used in quality control, product development, process optimization, and regulatory compliance audits. It can also be integrated into aging or stability studies to anticipate the physical variations of a product over time.

YesWeLab Support

YesWeLab provides access to a network of specialized laboratories for physicochemical, spectrophotometric, and environmental analyses, selected for their technical expertise and compliance with ISO 17025 and COFRAC standards. Through our digital platform, manufacturers can centralize their analyses, track their samples, access their results, and benefit from the support of our scientific team. We help you define the appropriate method, interpret the results, and optimize your formulations or processes to meet your specific objectives. Since 2020, manufacturers, distributors, engineering firms, and industrial companies across multiple sectors have trusted YesWeLab for their turbidity and stability analyses.

Other analyses from the YesWeLab catalogue

• Apparent viscosity analysis
• Hygroscopic analysis
• Powder cohesion measurement