Electrochemical gas monitoring method

摘要

An electrochemical detection system is disclosed for measuring the amount of carbon monoxide or similar oxidizable gases present in a gas phase mixture wherein the gas phase mixture is brought into contact with a liquid electrolyte through a gas-permeable measuring electrode. The improved electrode is formed of a porous membrane of chemically-inert non-wettable material, on one side of which a layer of gold is specially deposited for contact with an electrolyte of a substantially pure aqueous solution of perchloric acid. An electrical readout system is connected to the electrode for deriving a signal from the resulting oxidation current, which corresponds to a quantitative measure of the oxidation of the gas at the electrode-electrolyte interface. In addition to the special method for forming the electrode, a method for rejuvenating it after each sample measurement is disclosed wherein the electrode is successively impressed with an oxidizing (anodic) voltage, a reducing (cathodic) voltage and a working or reading voltage in an appropriate time sequence.