Colorimetric Alpha-amylase Analyzer

We designed this instrument around chemistry developed by Dr. Paul Mathewson while he was at the USDA Grain Marketing Lab in Manhattan, KS. In addition to the vacuum assisted 9 cm filter assembly, it featured a single wave length (620 nm narrow band pass filter) colorimeter with readout in optical density to 3 significant figures, multiple cuvett options, and an adjustable time base timing circuit to power the stirring motor which stirred a 10 ml flour/water/substrate slurry in a test tube heated in a dry block heater.