Electrochemical measuring cell for amperometrically determining ammonia and derivatives thereof

US4961834A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• DRAGERWERK AKTIEGESELLSCHAFT · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Kuhn · Riederich, DE
• Christiane Roocks · Bad Schwartau, DE
• Herbert Kiesele · Lübeck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 1989
• Grant date: Oct 9, 1990
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02A50/20
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention is directed to an electrochemical measuring cell for determining ammonia and its derivatives in a gaseous or liquid measuring sample. The measuring cell has at least one anode and at least one cathode which are disposed in an electrolyte chamber filled with a soluble electrolyte. The electrolyte chamber is closed off in the direction facing toward the measuring sample by a permeable membrane. The measuring cell provides a more selective ammonia sensor having the following advantages: a short response time, a linear response and exhibits the lowest possible tendency toward drift. The electrolyte of the measuring cell is so configured that the reaction products of the measuring reaction do not affect subsequent measurements. For this purpose the measuring cell, which operates in an amperometric measuring mode, contains a soluble non-oxidizable reagent in the electrolyte which reacts completely with ammonia to form an oxidizable product which is convertible by its oxidation into non-oxidizable soluble secondary products which are chemically and electrochemically inert.