An optical oxygen sensor and reaction vessel for high‐pressure applications

Abstract

We describe a simple hyperbaric chamber and optical oxygen probe (optrode), which is based on the dynamic fluorescent quenching of a ruthenium metal complex, that can be used to measure changes in oxygen concentration in either aqueous or gaseous media. Initial experiments illustrate the utility of this robust form of sensor. The optrode showed a typical response time of ≪10 s, a linear temperature response with greater fluorescent quenching at lower temperatures, and was unaffected by pressures as great as 34.4 mPa (340 atm). Yeast cultures measured at 27.8 mPa (275 atm) showed an up to ninefold decrease in respiration rate compared to cells at 1 atm. The oxygen optrode is a simple and rugged device that appears exceptionally well suited for experimentation under conditions in which polarographic electrodes or conventional chemical analysis is difficult, e.g., at high or variable pressures.