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Dissolved Oxygen Measurement

Introduction • Electrolyte - The electrolyte facilitates dissolved
oxygen migration and provides an electrical path
Dissolved oxygen is defined as the measure of water to complete the current loop. It also removes metal
quality indicating free oxygen dissolved in water. The oxides (a by-product of the reaction) from the
quantity of dissolved oxygen in water is typically electrodes so that their metal surfaces are clean to
expressed in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per react. Electrolyte must be periodically replenished
liter (mg/l). Since oxygen is soluble in water, the to insure that the electrodes remain clean.
amount of dissolved oxygen in water is in the state of
dynamic equilibrium. The solubility of the dissolved The operational theory of a membrane sensor is that
oxygen is proportional to the temperature and oxygen in the wastewater diffuses through the
pressure of the water. membrane into the electrolyte. The concentration of
gases always tends to equalize on both sides of the
The most common application for dissolved oxygen membrane. When the concentration is not equal, gas
measurement occurs in wastewater treatment. molecules migrate to the membrane side that has a
Biochemical breakdown of sewage is achieved by lower concentration. When the membrane is
bacterial attack in the presence of oxygen. This functioning, dissolved oxygen concentration in the
process typically takes place in an aeration basin of a electrolyte in the measurement cell approximately
wastewater treatment plant, and is accomplished by equals the dissolved oxygen concentration of the
aerating or bubbling air (or pure oxygen) through the wastewater contacting the opposite side of the
wastewater. Maintaining the proper concentration of membrane. The diffusion process is extremely critical.
dissolved oxygen in the aeration basin is necessary to The dissolved oxygen must be allowed to migrate
keep microorganisms alive and allow break down of freely through the membrane for the sensor to function
organic waste. These microorganisms turn organic properly.
wastes into inorganic byproducts; specifically, carbon
dioxide, water and sludge. When the measured Dissolved Oxygen Cell Chemistry
dissolved oxygen decreases below a desired
concentration, the plant control system automatically Most continuous measurement dissolved oxygen
adds air to the aeration basin to provide life-sustaining sensors in today’s marketplace use galvanic
oxygen for the microorganisms, and to facilitate (spontaneous voltage) or electrolytic (applied voltage)
thorough mixing of the organic waste. Without enough measuring cells. In either case, the system measures
dissolved oxygen concentration, beneficial an electric current between two electrodes, which is
microorganisms will die while troublesome filamentous proportional to the dissolved oxygen in the process.
microbes proliferate, causing sludge settling problems.
Conversely, aeration is the largest single operating ■ Conventional Galvanic Measuring Cell
expense, and oxygen levels greater than the required
optimum concentrations are wasteful and inefficient. A conventional galvanic cell is illustrated in
Figure 1. The oxygen content of the electrolyte is
Typical Membrane Sensor Design brought into equilibrium with that of the sample.
The galvanic cell operates like a battery, two
Dissolved oxygen sensors for continuous process electrodes made of dissimilar metals are immersed
monitoring are usually a membrane-type design. Most in a filling solution. This causes an electrochemical
membrane sensor designs use three basic elements: reaction to take place when oxygen comes into
contact with the electrodes. In this reaction, the
• Electrodes - The electrodes provide the necessary cathode reduces the oxygen into hydroxide, thus
reaction site for reduction of oxygen molecules releasing four electrons for each molecule of
and generation of electrons. oxygen. These electrons cause a current to flow
• Membrane - The gas permeable membrane is through the electrolyte, the magnitude of which is
designed to keep the electrolyte around the proportional to the oxygen concentration in the
electrodes, while allowing only dissolved oxygen electrolyte. The most common electrode materials
to diffuse into the measurement cell. are gold, silver, copper or lead, and the most

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frequently used electrolyte is potassium hydroxide Oxidation-reduction reactions for the Clark cell are:
(KOH). The cathode must be a noble metal (silver
or gold) for the cathode potential to reduce Reaction at cathode:
- -
molecular oxygen when the cell circuit is closed. O2 + 2H2O + 4e → 4OH
The anode should be a base metal (iron, lead, Reaction at anode:
cadmium, copper, zinc or silver) with good stability -
4Ag + 4Cl → 4AgCl + 4e
-
and without any tendency toward passivation. The
electrolyte is selected so that it will not dissolve the
Voltage
anode at a high rate when the cell is open.

Oxidation-reduction reactions for an iron anode and

silver cathode are: A g+

Reaction at cathode:
– –
O2 + 2H2O + 4e → 4OH
Reaction at anode: Ag Au
2+ –
2Fe → 2Fe + 4e A no de C athod e

e- FIGURE 2 -- Clark Polarographic Measuring Cell

Fe 2+ The Clark polarographic measuring cell addresses

some of the problems associated with a
conventional galvanic cell. The polarographic cell
requires a polarization voltage to be applied to the
electrodes. As long as this voltage is maintained at
Fe Ag a constant level, the cell will not be as susceptible
A no de C ath od e to contamination of the electrodes and electrolyte
as a galvanic cell. If a contaminating material does
FIGURE 1 -- Conventional Galvanic Measuring Cell permeate the membrane, the cell potential will not
shift. A polarographic cell measures the current
flow that results from reduction of the oxygen
The conventional galvanic measuring cell has some molecules in the cell. Since this current flow is
inherent disadvantages. It depends on the linearly proportional to the amount of oxygen
reduction of oxygen molecules to generate a present, potential for errors at low oxygen levels is
measurement voltage, making it susceptible to reduced. Finally, the anode electrode will not be
contamination of the electrodes and electrolyte. If a consumed by the electrochemical reaction.
contaminating material permeates the membrane, it
will cause the cell potential to shift. This shift will be ■ Ross Polarographic Measuring Cell
falsely interpreted as a change in dissolved oxygen
concentration. Another problem occurs at low Another variation of the conventional polarographic
oxygen concentration levels. Since the output of a cell is the Ross polarographic cell, shown in Figure
galvanic cell is linearly proportional to the amount 3. The reaction cell, which consists of a working
of oxygen present, the potential for errors at low electrode (cathode) and a counter electrode
oxygen levels increases due to a low signal-to- (anode), is isolated from the process solution by an
noise ratio. Finally, the anode electrode will be oxygen permeable membrane. Like the other
consumed due to the electrochemical reaction measurement cells (galvanic and polarographic),
necessary for the dissolved oxygen measurement. oxygen penetrates the membrane and is reduced at
the cathode. Unlike the other measurement cells
■ Clark Polarographic Measuring Cell that consume oxygen without replacing it, the
electrochemical reaction of a Ross cell causes the
A Clark polarographic cell is illustrated in Figure 2.
anode to generate an amount of oxygen equal to
The dissolved oxygen in the sample diffuses
the amount consumed by the cathode.
through the membrane and into the electrolyte
Measurement current flow is generated by this
solution, typically an aqueous potassium chloride steady-state diffusion of oxygen from the anode to
(KCL) solution. When a constant polarizing voltage
the cathode. This reaction continues until
is applied across the gold and silver electrodes,
equilibrium exists across the boundary between the
oxygen will be reduced at the cathode. The
membrane and its surroundings. When the
resulting current flow is directly proportional to the
concentration of oxygen in the process changes,
dissolved oxygen content of the electrolyte.
oxygen will pass into or out of the sensor until
equilibrium is re-established. The new steady-state

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diffusion rate will result in a new current
proportional to the oxygen concentration.

Oxidation-reduction reactions for a Ross Cell are:

Reaction at anode:
+ -
2H2O → O2 + 4H +4e
galvanic cell is the consumption of the anode electrode
Reaction at cathode: due to the electrochemical reaction necessary for the
+ -
O2 + 4H +4e → 2H2O dissolved oxygen measurement.
Net reaction = Zero (Balanced)
The conventional Clark polarographic cell addresses
some of the problems associated with a galvanic cell.
Vo ltag e This measurement technique uses a polarization
e- voltage that is applied to the electrodes. As long as
e- this voltage is maintained at a constant level, the cell
O2 will not be as susceptible to contamination of the
electrodes and electrolyte as a galvanic cell. Another
H 2O advantage of the polarographic cell is that the anode
electrode consumption is negligible.
Pt Pt
A no de C a th o d e The Ross polarographic cell eliminates even more of
the typical measurement problems because it operates
at equilibrium, which minimizes sensor maintenance
FIGURE 3 -- Ross Polarographic Measuring Cell and extends membrane cartridge life. The accuracy of
the measurement is not affected by partial membrane
By operating at equilibrium, the Ross Cell helps fouling, so the sensor provides accurate readings as
minimize sensor maintenance and extends long as it is not completely fouled. Measurement at
electrolyte life. The other measurement cells equilibrium also eliminates electrolyte depletion and
consume oxygen at the cathode without replacing electrode oxidation formation which would normally
it. When their membrane becomes coated, the consume the electrodes.
oxygen consumed at the cathode will exceed the
rate of diffusion through the membrane. This will Finally, the unique non-membrane (Züllig) galvanic
cause the sensor output to trend toward zero. This design dissolved oxygen sensor is quite different from
cannot happen with a Ross cell because it is membrane sensor types. The sensor does not rely on
producing oxygen at the same rate as it is being diffusion through a membrane to complete the
consumed. Thus, the Ross cell is not affected by a dissolved oxygen measurement. Electrolyte and
reduction in the diffusion rate of oxygen through the membrane are eliminated and electrodes are kept
membrane. Since measurement accuracy is not clean with a rotating diamond grindstone. This design
affected by partial membrane fouling, the sensor enables the dissolved oxygen system to maintain its
will provide accurate readings as long as the calibration over a longer time period and significantly
membrane is not completely fouled. Measurement reduces the frequency of cleaning. This sensor is
at equilibrium also eliminates electrolyte depletion designed for trouble-free operation in harsh
and anode electrode consumption. wastewater treatment environments, making it ideal for
applications where heavy concentrations of grease or
oil exist.
Summary

There are many different dissolved oxygen sensor

technologies, each with its own advantages and
disadvantages. One sensor technology will not fit all
applications. Consider the important factors (accuracy,
reliability, price, maintenance, etc.) when selecting the
correct technology for your application.

A basic galvanic cell depends on the reduction of

oxygen molecules to generate a measurement
voltage, making it susceptible to contamination of the
electrodes and electrolyte. Another problem with the

BI International 3 Tiechnical Bulletin: Dissolved Oxygen Measurement