Microelectrodes in microbial ecology

Journal Article · Wed Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Analytical Chemistry; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00181a002· OSTI ID:5191664

Boots, S

Understanding the microenvironment of bacteria has presented many challenges for the microbial ecologist. Simple intracellular capillary electrodes have been used in neurophysiology since the 1950s to measure action potentials in ion transport over biological membranes, and ion-selective electrodes were developed soon thereafter for the determination of H{sup +}, Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, and Ca{sup 2+}. However, these analytical techniques did not receive much attention until 1978, when Niels Peter Revsbech and Bo Barker Joergensen at the Institute of Ecology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, Denmark, began using oxygen microelectrodes in their studies of the ecology and biogeochemistry of marine sediments and other microbial environments. Today, Revsbech and Joergensen use five types of microelectrodes, two types of oxygen microelectrodes, a combined microelectrode for nitrous oxide and oxygen, a sulfide microelectrode, and a pH microelectrode. The first three microelectrodes have diameters of about 10 {mu}m and the last two of about 50 {mu}m. Some of the electrodes actually contain two or three cathodes plus a reference electrode, all situated behind a polymer membrane. In situ experiments have been done for several years at a water depth of several meters, where the micromanipulator is operated by a diver. Recently measurements were obtained in the deep sea with the microelectrodes mounted on a free-falling vehicle or operated from a submersible vessel.

• OSTI ID: 5191664
• Journal Information: Analytical Chemistry; (USA), Journal Name: Analytical Chemistry; (USA) Vol. 61:6; ISSN 0003-2700; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANOXIA
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOLOGY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ION-SELECTIVE ELECTRODES
MICROORGANISMS
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
REDOX POTENTIAL
SEDIMENTS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS