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How to Test Dissolved Oxygen (DO)?

Monday, February 26, 2018 8:29 PM

How to test Dissolved Oxygen (DO)?

There are a number of different methods that can be used to measure dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. First, there are wet chemical techniques, where a water sample is collected and then subject to a chemical reaction used to determine the DO level. Second, traditional membrane DO sensors are available, where a probe operating on electrochemical principles is inserted into the water to read the DO level. Finally, newer optical sensors are available that allow for fast, continuous measurement without many of the shortcomings of traditional membrane sensors.

Wet chemical techniques

The most common wet chemical technique for DO measurement is titration by the Winkler method. In this technique, a sample is collected in a special bottle that allows the water to be contained without coming into contact with air. Chemical reagents are then added to the water, including a titrant that is added until a reaction involving oxygen is complete (indicated by a color change). The concentration of DO is proportional to the volume of titrant added, which allows for a quantitative determination of DO. This technique can be used with low-precision kits for field use or for high-precision analysis using laboratory equipment.

This method has a number of limitations. First of all, sampling must be conducted very carefully. Not only must care be taken not to agitate the sample or expose it to gases, but special techniques or equipment may be needed for sampling water at depths where pressure is greater than at the surface, such as the use of Kemmerer water samplers at depths greater than 2 m[1].

Second, because biological activity consumes oxygen, there is only a limited time available between sampling and when the analysis must be completed. Samples containing appreciable amounts of biodegradable material must be tested immediately, and other samples may be stored for a few hours after preservatives are added to temporarily stop biological activity[1].

 

Membrane sensors

With sensor techniques, a probe can be inserted directly into the water, so a sample does not necessarily need to be collected. Traditional DO sensors employ electrochemical cells separated from the water by membranes. There are two different types of these sensors: galvanic and polarographic, the difference being that a polarographic system requires that a voltage be applied to polarize the electrodes, and the galvanic system does not. In both types, the electrochemical cell contains two electrodes and a filling solution (containing potassium chloride or potassium hydroxide).  This cell is separated from the water by a membrane that is highly permeable to oxygen but otherwise separates the water from the filling solution. As oxygen passes through the membrane, it interacts with the electrodes, causing a current to flow through the meter, which is used to determine the DO concentration.

Polarographic sensors require that the electrodes become polarized before measurement can take place. This warm-up period can take several minutes.

The reaction in the sensor consumes oxygen, so the signal detected by the meter depends on the transfer of oxygen across the membrane. Because of this, the method requires that the water be either flowing or stirred. One consequence of this is that the measurement may be affected by the flow rate of the water. These types of sensors also require occasional cleaning of the electrodes and replacement of the membrane and filling solution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the membrane and filling solution be replaced prior to each study[2], which adds to the operating cost of these devices.

Optical (fluorescent) sensors

This newer type of sensor operates on a very different set of principles than galvanic or polarographic probes. In this method, oxygen in the water interacts with a fluorescent material, which in turn affects how it interacts with certain wavelengths of light. Blue light from within the probe excites the fluorescence of the material, but this effect is quenched by the presence of oxygen. The higher the DO concentration, the smaller the amount of fluorescence that is seen by the detector.

optical_sensor_illustration

This type of sensor provides some important advantages over traditional membrane sensors. They require less maintenance as there is no membrane or filling solution to replace. Additionally, because the measurement does not consume oxygen, the measurement is not affected by the flow of water, and stirring is not necessary. Unlike polarographic sensors, optical sensors do not need to polarize, so the sensor is ready for measurement immediately.

Calibration of Sensors

Both traditional membrane sensors and optical sensors can be calibrated using air as a source of oxygen. This can be accomplished because the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere is a constant, known value (20.9%). A cap containing water-saturated air is often used for calibration. Alternatively, water saturated with air or standards with known DO concentrations (determined using the Winkler method) can be used for calibration[1,2].

Conclusion

The most precise measurements of DO are Winkler titrations conducted using laboratory equipment. However, this requires careful sample collection and preservation, as well as transportation to a laboratory within a short time frame. Field test kits using wet chemical techniques do not offer the same level of precision.

Sensors, including traditional membrane sensors and newer optical sensors, are more convenient to use because the DO can be measured in place without sample collection, and they allow for continuous and even remote monitoring. Traditional sensors require replacement of membranes and filling solutions, stirring, and may require a warmup period before use (for polarographic sensors). Newer optical sensors are even more convenient because they do not have these limitations.

 

References

[1] American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. APHA, AWWA, WPCF, Washington.

[2] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2017) Field Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen. SESD Operating Procedure SESDPROC-106-R4.

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What is dissolved oxygen (DO)?

Monday, February 12, 2018 8:20 PM

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is oxygen gas (O2) that is dissolved in water. Gases in the atmosphere, such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, naturally dissolve in water to some degree. Like salt or sugar, these gases are invisible in water once they become dissolved.

The element oxygen exists in many forms in nature. Although most people know that oxygen is part of the water molecule, most would be surprised to hear that oxygen is also the most abundant element in rocks. In these forms, oxygen is bound to other elements such as hydrogen, silicon or carbon. Molecular oxygen (O2), which is in air, is different than other forms because it is not bound to other elements. In nature, the O2 that we breathe is chemically much more reactive than the more abundant forms of oxygen that we come in contact with. This is what allows plants, animals and other organisms to use O2 to metabolize their food through the process of respiration.

Concentration and solubility

The amount (concentration) of O2 dissolved in water is most often expressed in terms of milligrams per liter of water (mg/L). This concentration is referred to as the dissolved oxygen (DO) content of the water. There is a natural tendency for water in contact with air to dissolve O2 until the saturation concentration is reached. For example, the DO in fresh water at 25°C in contact with air is 8.3 mg/L, assuming that equilibrium between water and air is reached and that nothing is removing the O2 from the water. 

DO concentrations are sometimes expressed as % of saturation. If the DO of the water is at the saturation concentration, then it is said to be 100% saturated. If the DO is 5.0 mg/L in fresh water that is at 25°C, for example, then it is 60% saturated (5.0 divided by the saturation level of 8.3 mg/L, multiplied by 100%).

This saturation concentration is known as the solubility of O2, which is the amount of O2 that water can hold. The solubility of O2 changes with temperature, salinity and pressure. The solubility of O2 in water increases as the temperature decreases, meaning that cold water can hold more O2. For example, cold water at 5°C (12.8 mg/L) holds about 55% more dissolved oxygen than warm water at 25°C (8.3 mg/L)[1]. 

Because the temperature of water varies with the seasons, DO levels tend to be higher in the cooler months because the solubility of O2 is higher in cold water. In the summer, water levels tend to be lower and the air is warmer, which leads to warmer water and lower DO levels.

The salinity of water also affects the solubility of O2, such that seawater can hold about 20% less O2 than fresh water[1].



Source: [1]

Dissolved oxygen solubility changes with temperature and salinity.

Pressure also affects the solubility of O2. The water pressure at a certain depth depends on the height of the water column above it, so pressure increases with depth. Water at greater pressure can hold more O2, meaning that the solubility of O2 increases at greater depths. For example, water at 4 m (13.1 ft) depth can hold about 40% more O2 than water at the surface[2]. 

It is possible for water to have a DO level that is higher than the solubility of O2 (more than 100% saturation). This condition is called supersaturation, which can happen under special circumstances (see below).

Sources and sinks of O2 in water

The main source of O2 in water is the atmosphere. Oxygen molecules slowly enter water at the water surface. This process is aided naturally by turbulent flowing water, wind, and waves. Because of this, still water tends to have lower DO values than rapidly moving water. Aeration of water naturally by rapids or waterfalls, or artificially by bubbling air through water, turning waterwheels, or spilling through dams, greatly accelerates the transfer of O2 from air to water. O2 also enters water bodies from tributary streams and groundwater discharge.

O2 in water is also produced through photosynthesis, in which plants and algae convert dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic matter, releasing O2 into the water. Photosynthesis only takes place at times of day where light is present. The depth at which photosynthesis takes place depends on the clarity of the water. In murky water, light may not reach the bottom of a deep lake.

Aquatic plants, animals and microbes consume O2 by respiration, where organic material used as fuel is converted back into CO2; this is the opposite of photosynthesis. Many people are surprised to learn that plants consume O2 as well as produce it. Plants will actually consume O2 by respiration at night and release O2 through photosynthesis during the day. Because of this, DO in some aquatic environments will tend to decrease at night and increase in the daytime.

Microbes and fungi also consume O2 through the decomposition of dead organic matter. Often, this happens in deeper layers of the water column as dead material sinks toward the bottom. Because of this, deeper layers of water often have lower levels of DO than shallow layers.

DO and aquatic life

Different species of aquatic animals have different DO requirements. Animals that feed on the bottom of a water body, where DO levels tend to be lower, can typically tolerate lower DO levels that animals that dwell near the surface. Most fish are able to survive and grow at DO concentrations of 5 mg/L or higher, although spawning and optimal growth may require higher concentrations[3].

When DO levels are too low for a certain species, the animal can become lethargic or die. Hypoxia is a condition where DO is low enough to threaten aquatic animal species. Hypoxia can cause dead zones in water bodies, where fish and other aquatic life are absent. A DO level of less than 1-2 mg/L is generally considered hypoxic, and a level less than 3 mg/L is a cause for concern. These values are below the requirements for spawning and growth of most fish.

At the opposite extreme, supersaturation of water with O2 can lead to health problems in fish. Supersaturation arises when the solubility of O2 in water rapidly decreases or when O2 is rapidly produced by photosynthesis. The solubility of O2 can decrease when water temperature rises, for example, so a rapid rise in water temperature can lead to supersaturation. Supersaturation with O2 can cause a health condition in fish called gas bubble disease.

Environmental impacts on DO

Because dissolved O2 is needed by most aquatic organisms, the DO of a water body is often used to assess its health. DO levels in water bodies can be impacted by a number of different environmental problems. For example, runoff associated with clearcutting or agricultural wastes can carry excessive organic material into water bodies, which can result in the depletion of O2 as the material is decomposed. 

Another problem is excessive nutrients, which can enter water bodies through runoff associated with fertilizer application on agricultural or recreation land (such as golf courses) or from wastewater treatment plants. Excessive nutrients can result in algal blooms, a process known as eutrophication. Algal blooms can block light from reaching aquatic plants, and dead algae provide a source of organic matter that can deplete DO levels when it decomposes. Because the dead algae sink, this problem especially impacts deeper layers of water and animals that dwell on the floor or bed of the water body.

Riparian vegetation (plants that live along the banks of a stream or river) protects the DO of streams by providing shade that helps keep the water cool. When this vegetation is removed, however, the temperature of the water can increase, causing a corresponding drop in DO levels.

The temperature of water can also be affected by other human activities. When water is withdrawn or stored for drinking water, irrigation, or industrial use, especially during dry months, the water level in streams can decrease, making them especially susceptible to temperature fluctuations and warming. The resulting decrease in DO can harm aquatic life in these water bodies. When water is used for industrial cooling processes and then discharged back into a stream, its temperature is often higher than the water in the stream, resulting in warming of the stream and a decrease in its DO.

Conclusion

Dissolved oxygen is affected by many different factors and processes found in water bodies, and it can fluctuate over short time scales. Fortunately, most aquatic life can tolerate short periods where DO is low. However, persistent problems with low DO levels can lead to poor health of an aquatic environment. This is why routine monitoring of DO is important when there is concern about the health of aquatic life.

References

[1] American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. APHA, AWWA, WPCF, Washington.

[2] FAO. (2014). Site selection for aquaculture: Chemical features of water. Washington, DC: Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, www.fao.org.

[3] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1986) Ambient water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen. EPA 440/5-86-003.

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