E-Dispenser Vs E-Burette: Key Differences
- November 23, 2025
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Understanding Microlit’s Liquid-Handling Instruments
Microlit is known for its high-precision laboratory tools, particularly in liquid handling. Two of their flagship instruments in titration and dispensing applications are the Microlit E‑Burette and the Microlit E‑Dispenser. While they may seem similar at first — both are motorized, electronic and designed for controlled liquid delivery — they serve distinct roles in the lab. Choosing the right one depends on what you do most: titration, repetitive dispensing or a mix of both.
What is an E-Burette?
The E-Burette is essentially a motor operated burette, built to automate and improve the classic titration process. Some of its standout features:
- Motor-Controlled Piston Movement
Unlike manual or digital burettes, the E-Burette uses a piston that’s driven by a motor. This ensures very smooth and consistent delivery of reagents. - Three Calibrated Pre-Set Speeds
You can choose between three speeds, including a dropwise mode. The dropwise speed is especially useful for titration end-points, where you need very fine control. - Touchscreen Interface
It has a TFT touchscreen, operated with a stylus, allowing you to start and stop dispensing very precisely. - Memory Function
The E-Burette can store up to 20 result readings, which is helpful for traceability or recording titration data. - Recirculation Valve
When you purge the system, the recirculation mode prevents loss of reagent by directing it back to the mounted bottle. This also helps in avoiding bubbles. - Flexible Nozzle / FlexiNozzle
The delivery nozzle (FlexiNozzle) is adjustable, which makes it easier to work in different lab setups — e.g., when you need to reach into tricky containers. - Capacities and Standards
It comes in 10 ml, 25 ml, and 50 ml versions.
Also, it’s built to conform to ISO 8655 standards and is GLP compliant, which ensures its accuracy and repeatability. - Calibration & Connectivity
Each unit is individually calibrated and comes with a certificate. Plus, you can connect it to a computer to record data. - Chemical Compatibility
The wetted parts (those in contact with the reagent) are made of chemically resistant materials like PTFE, FEP, and borosilicate glass. - Portability & Power
It runs on rechargeable batteries and has a control panel for reset, tare, and refilling.
What is an E-Dispenser?
The E-Dispenser, on the other hand, is a more versatile device — combining the precision of a burette with the flexibility of a dispenser. Here’s what makes it special:
- Dual Functionality: Dispenser + Electronic Burette
Rather than being limited to titration, the E-Dispenser can act both as a burette and as a dispenser, meaning it’s ideal for labs that do titrations and repetitive dosing/distribution tasks. - Multiple Dispensing Modes
- Automatic Mode: for standard dispensing tasks
- Serial Mode: where you need continuous, repeated dispensing
- Stepper Mode: for incremental dispensing / titrations
- Touch Interface
Just like the E-Burette, the E-Dispenser has a 4″ TFT touchscreen + stylus, making setting volumes and modes intuitive. - High-Precision Motor
The E-Dispenser also uses a motor-driven piston to ensure very accurate, reproducible dispensing. - Recirculation Mode
It has a mode that prevents reagent loss — during purging, it reroutes the liquid back to the bottle so no waste, and no bubbles. - Memory / Program Storage
The E-Dispenser can store up to 10 programs each for serial and stepper dispensing modes. It also supports deletion of individual readings or clearing all, offering flexibility for repeated tasks. - Wide Volume Range
It supports both very small volumes (microliters) and up to milliliters, making it very versatile. - FlexiNozzle® Design
The adjustable nozzle helps make dispensing ergonomic and practical — you can angle it as needed. - Capacities
Like the E-Burette, the E-Dispenser typically comes in 10 ml, 25 ml, and 50 ml models. - Industry Use Cases
Because of its flexibility, the E-Dispenser is used across many industries: pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, food & beverage, cosmetics, oil & gas, and more.
Key Differences: E-Burette vs E-Dispenser
Here’s a point-by-point comparison of where each instrument shines, and where one might be a better fit than the other.
| Feature | E-Burette | E-Dispenser |
| Primary Role | Titration / accurate burette dispensing | Mixed titration + dispensing |
| Speed Control | 3 calibrated preset speeds including dropwise | Variable via modes (automatic, serial, stepper) |
| Memory / Recording | Stores up to 20 results | Stores up to 10 programs (serial & stepper) |
| Recirculation | Yes, for purging without reagent loss | Yes — helps avoid bubbles and save reagent |
| Nozzle Design | FlexiNozzle, adjustable | FlexiNozzle® for ergonomic multi-directional dispensing |
| Interface | Touchscreen + stylus, GUI for titration control | 4″ touchscreen + stylus, for mode selection and volume control |
| Capacity Options | 10 ml / 25 ml / 50 ml | Same (10 ml / 25 ml / 50 ml) |
| Precision | Very high — motor piston, ISO-compliant | Also very high, thanks to motor control and precision piston |
| Use Case | Analytical titration, labs focused on volumetric analysis | Labs requiring both titrations and repetitive dispensing tasks |
| Industry Applications | Pharmaceutical, environment, food & beverage | Wide: pharma, cosmetics, oil & gas, environmental, etc. |
Advantages of Choosing E-Burette
- Precision in Titration: Because of its dropwise mode and preset speeds, the E-Burette is especially suited for titrations where reaching the exact end-point is critical.
- Automation Reduces Human Error: The motorized piston removes variability that comes from manual burettes or even manually operated digital burettes.
- Robust Data Management: With 20 memory slots and computer connectivity, it supports good lab documentation and quality control.
- Standards Compliance: ISO 8655 compliance ensures it meets international standards for accuracy.
- Chemical Safety: The use of corrosion-resistant materials (PTFE, FEP, glass) makes it compatible with a wide range of reagents.
- Efficient Purging: Recirculation mode saves expensive reagents and avoids loss.
Advantages of Choosing E-Dispenser
- Versatility: Because it combines both dispenser and burette functionality, it reduces the need for two separate devices, saving cost and bench space.
- Flexible Dispensing Modes: The availability of automatic, serial, and stepper modes makes it ideal for different workflows — from repetitive dispensing to precision titrations.
- Wide Volume Range: Able to handle very small microlitre volumes as well as larger millilitre quantities, giving more flexibility.
- User Memory & Programs: Storing dispensing programs helps streamline repetitive tasks, improving efficiency.
- Ergonomic Design: The FlexiNozzle and touchscreen interface make it comfortable and intuitive to use.
- Reagent Efficiency: Recirculation mode again prevents waste and bubble formation.
- Industry-Ready: With its dual functionality, it fits a variety of industry needs — from analytical labs to production settings.
Choosing the Right Instrument for Your Lab
Here are some practical guidelines to decide which instrument is more suitable:
- What’s Your Main Task?
- If your lab’s primary function is titration / analysis, the E-Burette is likely the better pick.
- If your lab does a mix of titration and dispensing (for example, you titrate some solutions but also regularly dispense reagents into many vials), the E-Dispenser could give you more value.
- Throughput & Repetition:
For high-throughput, repetitive dispensing (serial tasks), the E-Dispenser’s serial mode and program memory provide clear advantages. - Precision Needs:
If your experiments demand very fine control (small volumes, precise end-points), the dropwise speed and motor control in E-Burette are powerful features. - Budget & Space Constraints:
Using one dual-function device (E-Dispenser) might be more cost-effective than maintaining a separate burette and dispenser. Also saves bench space. - Data Management:
If recording and saving titration or dispensing data is important, check how each model meets your documentation needs in terms of memory, connectivity, and software. - Chemical Compatibility:
Check the reagents you use — both instruments are built for chemical resistance, but always confirm compatibility, especially for aggressive or light-sensitive reagents.
Real-World Applications
- Pharmaceutical Labs: For titrating drug formulations, the E-Burette’s precision is valuable. But for routine reagent dispensing (buffer, diluent), the E-Dispenser is very handy.
- Environmental Monitoring: When measuring pollutants, titrations done by E-Burette can ensure high accuracy. Meanwhile, sampling or repeated dosing tasks can be handled by E-Dispenser.
- Food & Beverage / Cosmetics: Quality control labs might use the E-Dispenser to distribute samples or reagents, and occasionally run titrations to test acidity, alkalinity, or other parameters.
- Oil & Gas / Petrochemical: The E-Dispenser’s robustness and versatility make it suitable for handling a wide range of solvents and reagents in process labs.
Potential Limitations & Considerations
- Cost: These are advanced instruments. While they offer automation and precision, the upfront cost is higher than traditional manual burettes.
- Maintenance: Motor-driven systems may need regular maintenance or calibration.
- Battery Dependence: Since they use rechargeable batteries, labs must manage power cycles and ensure reliable charging infrastructure.
- Training: Users may require training to make full use of features like programmable modes, recirculation, and memory management.
Conclusion
In the world of high-precision liquid handling, both the Microlit E-Burette and E-Dispenser offer powerful, automated solutions. But they are not interchangeable — they serve complementary, though overlapping, roles.
- Choose the E-Burette when titration is your core task: its motorized piston, three-speed dispensing (especially dropwise), and data memory make it ideal for analytical workflows requiring maximum precision and control.
- Opt for the E-Dispenser when you need flexibility: its dual-function capability supports titrations and repetitive dispensing, with programmable modes for efficiency and recirculation to reduce reagent waste.
By understanding their strengths — and considering your lab’s specific needs — you can make a more informed decision, ensuring you get the right tool for your application. Whether you’re aiming for pinpoint accuracy in titration or streamlined, repeatable dispensing, Microlit’s devices are designed to elevate your lab’s performance.
