ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LONG-TERM MEASUREMENT OF HYPOHALITES
First Claim
1. A sensor operable to measure total residual oxidant (TRO) in an aqueous environment, comprising:
- a working electrode operable to measure TRO;
a reference electrode;
a first auxiliary electrode; and
a second auxiliary electrode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus measures the presence of total residual oxidant species in aqueous environments. More specifically, the apparatus is operable to measure hypohalites (e.g., hypochlorite and hypobromite) in water containing halide salts using electrochemistry. The apparatus can be a sensor having four electrodes—a reference electrode, a working electrode, and two auxiliary electrodes. The fourth electrode, i.e., the second auxiliary electrode, can be used to generate ionized water near and in contact with the working electrode. The ionized water can clean the working electrode to minimize effects due to scaling or biofilm formation. As such, the working electrode does not need the capability to clean itself. Thus, other elements, originally believed to be unsuitable for use in saline aqueous environments, can be used for the electrodes, for example, gold.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A sensor operable to measure total residual oxidant (TRO) in an aqueous environment, comprising:
-
a working electrode operable to measure TRO; a reference electrode; a first auxiliary electrode; and a second auxiliary electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A microwire electrode comprising:
-
a helix of gold microwire, the helix comprising; a first end, the first end electrically connected to a sensor circuit; at least one winding; and wherein the helix is operable to measure total residual oxidant (TRO) in an aqueous environment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for measuring TRO in an aqueous environment, the method comprising:
-
introduce a sensor into the aqueous environment, the sensor comprising a gold working electrode; measuring an amount of hypohalite in the aqueous environment; and cleaning the surface of the gold working electrode with one of an acid or a base produced by a second auxiliary electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification