Technical Bulletin No. 0147: The Construction, Calibration, and Operation of a Galvanic Cell Oxygen Analyzer

Rapid advances have been made recently in the measurement of dissolved oxygen in water by means of galvanic cells covered by membranes selectively permeable to oxygen. Such cells are simple and inexpensive to construct and the current generated by them can be read directly on a micro-ammeter. The use of this technique, particularly for field work, is very simple and much less time consuming than chemical tests. The attached National Council Technical Bulletin describes the construction, calibration and use of one type of such cells which is being thoroughly tested by the National Council's Louisiana State University Project. Much of the basic information contained therein was supplied by staff members of the Department of Sanitary Engineering of the University of North Carolina, which group has done considerable work with this device. While it is believed that these cells will be improved in the near future, particularly in respect to reducing their temperature sensitivity, it was felt that the device described in the bulletin would be of immediate value to many pulp and paper mill laboratories making tests for dissolved oxygen. It would be most helpful if laboratories making use of this technique in the near future would report to the National Council on their experience with it, particularly in regard to any difficulties encountered.