In situ calibrated oxygen electrode

Applications for determining dissolved oxygen cover many scientific fields ranging from aquatic to medicinal. Dissolved oxygen is often measured using a Clark electrode, however this device needs frequent recalibration due to changes in sensitivity caused by environmental conditions. External methods of calibration require removal of the sensor from the working environment. In this work, an oxygen-generating electrode is used to recalibrate the Clark-type oxygen-detecting electrode in situ. Preliminary data show that the new calibration procedure provides an estimate of the sensitivity to within 7.5% of the actual value determined experimentally. In situ calibration would have an enormous impact on the way chemical and biological processes are monitored.