Devices, systems, and methods for measuring a solution characteristic of a sample comprising microorganisms

A sensor apparatus for measuring a solution characteristic of a liquid sample, the sensor apparatus comprising:

• a sample container comprising a sample chamber configured to contain the liquid sample, an aeration port defined along at least one of a bottom side and a lateral side of the sample container and an air-permeable membrane covering the aeration port, wherein the aeration port and the air-permeable membrane is configured to allow air to enter the sample chamber through the aeration port and the air-permeable membrane to aerate the sample chamber;
• a reference sensor component comprising:
• a reference conduit comprising a reference conduit cavity, a reference conduit first opening, and a reference conduit second opening;
• a wicking component extending through the reference conduit cavity having a wick distal end and a wick proximal end, wherein at least part of the wicking component is in fluid communication with the sample chamber such that at least some of the liquid sample is drawn by the wicking component in a direction of the wick proximal end;
• and
• a reference electrode material disposed at the wick proximal end;
• and
• an active sensor component comprising an active electrode material, wherein at least part of the active electrode material extends into the sample chamber and is in fluid contact with the liquid sample when the sample chamber is filled at least partially with the liquid sample,
• wherein the reference sensor component and the active sensor component are electrically coupled by conductive connections to a parameter analyzer and wherein the solution characteristic of the liquid sample is determined based on a potential difference measured between the active electrode material and the reference electrode material.