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Dissolved Oxygen Sensor

Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of oxygen dissolved in water available to aquatic organisms. It is an important water quality parameter that influences organisms. Dissolved oxygen can be measured using sensors, which work through either electrochemical or optical methods. Electrochemical sensors include polarographic and galvanic types, which produce a current proportional to oxygen levels through electrode reactions. Optical sensors use luminescent dyes that are excited by light and emit wavelengths altered by oxygen. Both sensor types allow for lab or field dissolved oxygen measurements.

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87 views17 pages

Dissolved Oxygen Sensor

Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of oxygen dissolved in water available to aquatic organisms. It is an important water quality parameter that influences organisms. Dissolved oxygen can be measured using sensors, which work through either electrochemical or optical methods. Electrochemical sensors include polarographic and galvanic types, which produce a current proportional to oxygen levels through electrode reactions. Optical sensors use luminescent dyes that are excited by light and emit wavelengths altered by oxygen. Both sensor types allow for lab or field dissolved oxygen measurements.

Uploaded by

Hit Dadhaniya
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dissolved Oxygen Sensor

Prepared by:
Princy A. Mistry
Dissolved Oxygen
 The air we breathe contains about 21% oxygen. Fish and other aquatic organisms
require oxygen as well.

 The term Dissolved Oxygen (DO or D.O.) refers to the amount of free oxygen dissolved
in water which is readily available to respiring aquatic organisms. Or

 Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of free, non-compound oxygen present in water or
other liquids

 Non-compound oxygen, or free oxygen (O2), is oxygen that is not bonded to any other
element. Dissolved oxygen is the presence of these free O2 molecules within water.

 State water quality standards often express minimum concentrations of dissolved


oxygen which must be maintained in order to support life as well as be of beneficial use.

 The amount of dissolved oxygen needed varies from creature to creature. Bottom
feeders, crabs, oysters and worms need minimal amounts of oxygen (1-6 mg/L), while
shallow water fish need higher levels (4-15 mg/L)

 It is an important parameter in assessing water quality because of its influence on the


organisms living within a body of water.
Measuring Dissolved Oxygen by the
Sensor Method
 The most popular method for dissolved oxygen
measurements is with a dissolved oxygen meter and sensor. 

 A dissolved oxygen sensor can be used in the lab or in the


field.

 DO sensors can be designed for biochemical oxygen demand


(BOD) tests, spot sampling or long-term monitoring
applications.

 A dissolved oxygen meter, water quality data logging system


can be used to record measurement data taken with a DO
sensor.
Optical Dissolved Oxygen Sensors
 Optical dissolved oxygen sensors measure the interaction between oxygen and
certain luminescent dyes.

 When exposed to blue light, these dyes become excited (electrons gaining
energy) and emit light as the electrons return to their normal energy state.

 When dissolved oxygen is present, the returned wavelengths are limited or


altered due to oxygen molecules interacting with the dye.

 The measured effect is inversely proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen.

 While some of these optical DO sensors are called fluorescent sensors, this
terminology is technically incorrect.

 These sensors emit blue light, not ultraviolet light, and are properly known as
optical or luminescent DO sensors.

 Optical dissolved oxygen sensors can measure either the intensity or the
lifetime of the luminescence, as oxygen affects both
The sensing element (lumiphore) is activated, or excited when illuminated
with a blue light. When activated, the lumiphore then emits blue light in an
intensity that is inversely proportional to the amount of oxygen present in
the water.
 Optical dissolved oxygen sensors
tend to be more accurate than their
electrochemical counterparts, and
are not affected by hydrogen sulfide
or other gasses that can permeate
an electrochemical DO membrane.

 They are also capable of accurately


measuring dissolved oxygen at very
low concentrations

 Optical DO sensors are ideal for


long-term monitoring programs due
to their minimal maintenance
requirements.

 These dissolved oxygen sensors also


do not require any warm-up time or
stirring when taking a measurement
Electrochemical Dissolved Oxygen
Sensors
 Electrochemical dissolved oxygen sensors can
also be called amperometric or Clark-type
sensors.
 There are two types of electrochemical DO

sensors:
1. Galvanic
2. Polarographic. 
Polarographic Analysis
Voltammetry:
◦ Analytical procedure where the relationship
between voltage applied across two electrodes and
current flow that results are used to analyze a
solution are termed voltammetry.
Polarography
◦ It is a specialized form of voltammetry that differs
from other forms in that special inert electrode
such as dropping mercury electrode is used.
Polarographic Dissolved Oxygen
Sensors
 A polarographic DO sensor is an
electrochemical sensor that consists of a
silver anode and a noble metal (such as gold,
platinum or infrequently, silver) cathode in a
potassium chloride (KCl) solution.
 When the instrument is turned on, it requires

a 5-60 minute warm-up period to polarize


the electrodes before calibrating or
measuring.
 Ag – silver anode
KCl and H2O – potassium chloride
solution
Au/Pt – gold or platinum cathode

 Silver Anode Reaction and Oxidation

4Ag —-> 4Ag+ +4e–

4Ag+ 4KCl —-> 4AgCl + 4K+

 Gold Cathode Reaction and Oxygen


Reduction

O2 + 4e– + 2H2O —> 4OH–

4OH– + 4K+ —-> 4KOH

 Overall Reaction

O2 + 2H2O + 4KCl + 4Ag —-> 4AgCl +


4KOH

 The Au/Pt cathode is inert and only


passes electrons; it does not participate
in the reaction*
 In a polarographic dissolved oxygen sensor, the role of the cathode is to accept
and pass on electrons from the anode to the oxygen molecules.

 In order for oxygen to acquire the electrons, the oxygen reduction reaction
must occur at the cathode’s surface.

 The electrons passed from the silver anode to the cathode via an internal circuit
are used to reduce the oxygen molecules to hydroxide ions at the cathode’s
surface, producing a current.

 This current is proportional to oxygen consumed, and thus to the partial


pressure of oxygen in the sample

 The silver anode is oxidized during this process as it gives up its electrons to
the reduction reaction, but the oxidation only occurs when measurements are
being taken.

 This reaction is noticeable as the anode darkens (AgCl coating).

 As the oxidized coating accumulates, the sensor’s performance will degrade

 When this occurs, the electrodes can be cleaned to restore sensor performance 
Galvanic Dissolved Oxygen Sensors
 In a galvanic dissolved oxygen sensor, the electrodes are
dissimilar metals.

 Metals have different electropotentials based on their activity


series (how readily they give or accept electrons).

 When placed in an electrolyte solution, the potential between


dissimilar metals causes them to self-polarize

 This self-polarization means that a galvanic DO sensor does not


require any warm-up time.

 In order to reduce oxygen without an external applied potential,


the difference in potential between the anode and the cathode
should be at least 0.5 volts
 The anode in a galvanic dissolved oxygen sensor is usually zinc,
lead or another active metal while the cathode is silver or another
noble metal.

 The electrolyte solution can be sodium hydroxide, sodium


chloride, or another inert electrolyte

 The electrochemical reaction in galvanic DO sensors is very


similar to the reaction in polarographic DO sensors, but without
the need for a separate, constant potential.

 The dissimilar electrodes self-polarize, with the electrons


traveling internally from the anode to the cathode.

 The cathode remains inert, serving only to pass on electrons and


it does not interfere in the reaction.

 Thus the anode is oxidized and oxygen is reduced at the surface


of the cathode.
 Zn/Pb – zinc or lead anode
 NaCl and H2O – sodium chloride

solution
 Ag – silver cathode

 Zinc Anode Reaction and Oxidation

2Zn —-> 2Zn2+ + 4e–

 Silver Cathode Reaction and Oxygen


Reduction

O2 + 4e– + 2H2O —-> 4OH–

4OH– + 2Zn2+ —-> 2Zn(OH)2

 Overall Reaction

O2 + 2H2O + 2Zn —> 2 Zn(OH)2

*The Ag cathode is inert and only


passes electron without participating
in the reaction* 
 The silver cathode accepts electrons from the anode and passes
them on to the oxygen molecules. This transaction occurs at the
cathode’s surface 

 The current produced by the reduction of oxygen is proportional


to the partial pressure of oxygen in the water sample

 The zinc hydroxide that is produced by these reactions is


precipitated out into the electrolyte solution. This precipitate is
visible as a white solid at the tip of the sensor

 As the electrodes in a galvanic DO sensor are self-polarizing, the


oxidation of zinc will continue to occur even when the
instrument is not in use.

 That being said, a galvanic dissolved oxygen sensor will operate


efficiently even as the zinc anode is consumed, though it may
need to be replaced more frequently than a polarographic DO
sensor 

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