A steam-sterilizable electrode of the galvanic type for the measurement of dissolved oxygen

An oxygen probe is developed, using the principle of the silver-lead galvanic cell, covered with a plastic membrane. It is steam sterilizable while filled with water; after sterilization, water is easily exchanged for the electrolyte, potassium bicarbonate. Flat plastic membranes up to a thickness of about 0.1 mm can be applied. The membrane is secured and stretched in a special way, which guarantees a leakproof seal. The outer shape of the probe has a tulip-form and consists of polished stainless steel, except for the electrode face. The electrode is suitable for laboratory and industrial use and its components are completely standardized. Almost linear response for O₂-partial pressures up to atmospheric is obtained with 0.001 in. and 0.002 in. FEP-Teflon membranes. 90% response time is of the order of 10–15 sec for the 0.001 in. membrane, Residual current is almost negligible (< 1 μA).     

Dissolved oxygen determination by electrocatalysed chemiluminescence with in-line solid phase media

Dissolved elemental oxygen is determined in a flowing aqueous stream using glucose oxidase to catalyse the reaction between D -glucose and O₂ to produce hydrogen peroxide. The levels of the resulting H₂O₂ are detected and quantified by luminol chemiluminescence using in-line solid phase media for pH adjustment of the reagent stream and for controlled release of the luminophore. The reaction is initiated by electrochemical catalysis. By the use of excess D -glucose in the reagent flow stream, the intensity of chemiluminescence is rendered proportional only to fluctuations in the dissolved O₂ concentration. The methodology provides a means for the detection of aqueous O₂ in the range 0–10 mg/L. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vitro determination of the pressure-diameter relationship and velocity profiles by ultrasonic technics. In vivo application

A good knowledge of arterial flow mechanics and of the phenomena associated with fluid-boundary interactions is necessary for the determination of some fundamental parameters such as velocity, pressure and pressure-diameter relationship during a cardiac cycle. Ultrasonic techniques were developed on a test bench and directly applied to animals without major modification. On such a test bench allowing a good simulation of physiological type flows, velocity field and pressure-diameter relationship were determined. In vivo application of these techniques allowed a systematic analysis of velocity profiles in the rabbit abdominal aorta and a precise approach of rheological properties of the vascular wall.     

A miniature Clark-type oxygen electrode using a polyelectrolyte and its application as a glucose sensor

A miniature Clark-type oxygen electrode was fabricated by anisotropically etching silicon. A two-gold-electrode configuration was used and a double-layered gas-permeable membrane was formed directly on the electrolyte, poly(vinyl-4-ethylpyridinium bromide) in the sensitive area. These materials improved the electrode's stability in long-term storage and sterilization tolerance to a practical level. The 90% response time averaged 80 s and residual current 10%, with a good linear calibration curve. The oxygen electrode was also used to make an integrated sensor for the simultaneous determination of glucose and oxygen. The glucose sensor's response time was 50-110 s, with good linearity in glucose concentrations between 56 microM and 1.1 mM at 37 degrees C, pH 7.0.     

Dissolved oxygen and fish behavior

Synopsis This essay reviews the behavioral responses of fish to reduced levels of dissolved oxygen from the perspective of optimization theory as used in contemporary behavioral ecology. A consideration of oxygen as a resource suggests that net oxygen gain per unit of energy expenditure will be the most useful currency for ecological models of breathing. In the process of oxygen uptake, fish always expend energy on perfusion, usually on ventilation and often on locomotion. These costs, and the risk of predation, will vary with oxygen availability and the type of behavioral response shown. The principal categories of behavioral response to reduced external availability of dissolved oxygen are (1) changes in activity, (2) increased use of air breathing, (3) increased use of aquatic surface respiration, and (4) vertical or horizontal habitat changes. Fish should choose whichever combination of responses minimizes the costs of meeting their oxygen demands. A small number of studies provides qualitative support for this prediction.     

Dissolved oxygen and the scleroglucan fermentation process

The effect of culture dissolved oxygen (D.O.) upon biomass, scleroglucan and oxalate formation bySclerotium glucanicum was examined in a stirred tank fermenter by oxygen enrichment. Controlling culture D.O. at 5 or 10% saturation led to increased biomass formation and decreased scleroglucan formation. The mechanism by which this occurred probably involved a non-specific diversion of C source (sucrose) away from product and towards biomass synthesis. This is at variance with the reported stimulatory effect of limiting D.O. levels upon scleroglucan synthesis. Controlling the culture at higher levels (20 and 30%) involved increases in impeller speed. The results of such changes were distinct from those of D.O., thus demonstrating that attempts to examine D.O. effects by means of impeller speed changes are inappropriate.     

A reaction cell with short optical path and oxygen electrode compartment for convenient quantitative determination of oxygen binding by hemoglobin

• 1.1. A simple and compact apparatus, with which the oxygen equilibrium of hemoglobin can be determined easily, was constructed and its performance was examined.
• 2.2. The oxygen partial pressure and the degree of oxygen saturation in a hemoglobin solution were determined by combined use of a Clark oxygen electrode and a spectrophotometer.
• 3.3. This apparatus can be used in a usual 1 cm square cell holder of a commercial spectrophotometer without any modifications, and has the advantage that the light path length of the optical cell is variable and can be shortened to about 2 mm.

     

A new method to measure the haemoglobin oxygen saturation by the oxygen electrode

We describe a new polarographic method to measure the haemoglobin oxygen saturation in whole blood, employing up to 10 μl of sample in a standard case. The measurement is done in an anaerobic staineless-steel cuvette (1 ml) recording three oxygen tension values: (1) that of an air-equilibrated buffer before the addition of the sample; (ii) that after the addition of the sample; and (iii) that after the addition of an oxidant. The haemoglobin oxygen saturation is then calculated from the three oxygen tension values, the volume of the reagents, and solubility coefficient of oxygen. This method is simple, inexpensive and accurate, and correlates well with other standard methods.     

Design and application of electrodes for the determination of dissolved oxygen

The design and circuitry of solid electrodes of the Clark type for the determination of oxygen dissolved in microbial cultures and the suitable techniques are described. For the electrodes a portable battery instrument with an amplifier and recorder was developed. The electrode materials tested were: Au, Pt, Ag (cathode) and Ag/Ag₂O and Ag/AgCl (anode). The effect of the presence of carbon dioxide on the course of the polarographic curves was determined. The temperature effect was determined for various membrane materials and its compensation with a thermistor was investigated. The effect of the circuit and design of the electrodes on stability, response time, reproducibility of measurement, durability of the electrodes and applicability in microbiology are discussed.     

Dissolved oxygen in the porcine gastrointestinal tract

Dissolved oxygen concentrations in gut contents in situ were measured in anaesthetized piglets by the electrode and membrane-inlet mass spectrometric methods. Very high concentrations of oxygen were observed throughout the gut. In the duodenum and jejunum, values approaching air-saturation were recorded. Taken together with previous findings on the distribution of anaerobes in the gut, it seems that the dissolved oxygen concentration may be an important factor determining the activity and composition of the pig gut microbial flora.     

Dissolved oxygen levels affect dimorphic growth by the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea

The entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea is capable of dimorphic growth (hyphal or yeast-like) in submerged culture. Using 250-mL baffled flasks, culture volumes of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mL were grown in a shaker incubator at 350 rpm and 28°C. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was continuously monitored using a non-invasive oxygen monitoring system. Culture volumes of 50 mL maintained DO concentrations above 10% throughout the 3-day growth period and accumulated biomass and produced blastospores more rapidly (1.2×10⁹ blastospores mL^?1 in 2 days) than the other culture volumes tested. Dissolved oxygen was depleted in culture volumes of 100, 150, and 200 mL after 20.5, 16.8, and 13.5 h, respectively. The DO in 150 and 200 mL cultures remained exhausted (<3%) throughout the growth period resulting in significantly lower blastospore yields and increased hyphal growth. These results were used to establish oxygen levels (>20% DO) for I. fumosorosea growth in 100-L bioreactors resulting in blastospore production (1.1×10⁹ blastospores mL^?1 in 2 days) comparable to highly aerated, low volume shake flask cultures. In addition, maintaining higher DO levels resulted in increased blastospore production by cultures of I. fumosorosea grown on low-cost nitrogen sources (cottonseed meal and soy flour) that previously elicited excessive hyphal growth. These studies showed that oxygen availability is essential for significant yeast-like growth by I. fumosorosea cultures and that continuous monitoring of oxygen concentrations in shake flask cultures can be used to establish aeration conditions for bioreactors.