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US 5,290,408 AGranted
Probe for measuring liquid buffering capacity
AssigneeResearch and Development Institute, Inc. at Montana State University
InventorsZbigniew Lewandowski, William G. Characklis, deceased
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring the buffering capacity of a liquid which utilizes a pH electrode positioned at the surface of a working electrode. Measured changes in pH of the metal-water interface at known potentials which are applied to the working electrode are used to calculate the liquid buffering capacity.
Claims11
A method for measuring the buffering capacity of a liquid containing dissolved oxygen which comprises:
- (a) providing a liquid containing dissolved oxygen;
- (b) providing a cathodically or anodically polarized, conductive surface immersed in said liquid;
- (c) connecting electrical circuits to apply a constant cathodic potential between (1) a working electrode and a reference electrode and (2) to provide means for measuring the difference in potential between a pH microelectrode and a reference electrode;
- (d) applying a known potential to said conductive surface;
- (e) treating said liquid to create a constant bulk dissolved oxygen concentration;
- (f) measuring the differences in pH at said conductive surface;
- and
- (g) determining the buffering capacity of said liquid from said pH measurement and said known potential.
5 more elements
An apparatus for measuring the buffering capacity of a liquid comprising:
- (a) a working electrode with a pH electrode positioned at or adjacent to a surface of said working electrode;
- (b) at least a first and second electrical circuit, said first electrical circuit comprising means for applying a constant cathodic or anodic potential between said working electrode and a reference electrode, and said second electrical circuit comprising means for measuring the pH at or adjacent to a surface of said working electrode;
- (c) means to create and maintain a constant bulk dissolved oxygen concentration adjacent said working electrode;
- (d) micromanipulator for positioning said pH electrode at or adjacent to a surface of said working electrode;
- and
- (e) at least a counter electrode and a reference electrode.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.