STEP-Technology permits to obtain Space- and Time-resolved Extinction Profiles over the entire sample length of up to 12 different samples simultaneously. Parallel light (I0) illuminates the entire sample cell and the transmitted light I is detected by thousands of sensors arranged linearly across your whole sample from top to bottom with a microscale resolution. Transmission is converted into extinction by lg I/I0 and particle concentration may be calculated. STEP-Technology gives also high flexibility to use different cells to match specific sample properties.

By means of the comprehensive software SEPView the light intensity can be adjusted to the corresponding sample turbidity. Transmission profils are recorded as fast as each second or with time intervalls up to hours, displayed as a sequence on the screen. Transmission date are automatically stored in a special designed database, together with all instrument settings and actual calibration data.

The speed of the centrifuge can be set at a constant value or programmed to change during the measurement in the range from 200 rpm to 4000 rpm. These rpm-values correspond to relative centrifugal forces (RCF) at the bottom of the cell of 5 to 2300 (RCF = centrifugal acceleration/earth gravity). Built-in temperature control covers all present and future applications.

Evaluation Features: The evolution of the transmission profiles contains the complete information on the kinetics of any concentration changes due to creaming, sedimentation, flocculation, coalescence or phase separation. Based on these space- and time-resolved extinction profiles demixing phenomena are quantified regarding clarification velocity, sedimentation and flotation velocity of particles, residual turbidity, separated phase volume (liquid or solid), sediment consolidation or dewaterability.

Furthermore, comprehensive infomation is obtained with respect to the multimodality or polydispersity of dispersed particles.