摘要 |
Apparatus comprising an ammonia electrode, a pH electrode and a thermistor is utilized in determining ammonium in concentration and total ammonia concentration by simultaneously measuring to produce signals related to ammonia concentration, hydrogen ion concentration and temperature. Ammonium ion concentration and total ammonia concentration are calculated based on the equation [NH4+]=[NH3][H+]/K where K is the equilibrium constant for the reaction NH3+H+-><-NH4+ at the temperature measured by the thermistor. In a preferred embodiment a microprocessor is included for the calculation of ammonium ion concentration and of total ammonia concentration. In one embodiment, the electrodes and thermistor are simultaneously applied to a body fluid or tissue of a living animal and continuous data on ammonium ion concentration and total ammonia is produced. Alternatively, fluid samples can be withdrawn from an animal or person for similar measurements in vitro.
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