Abstract: Disclosed is a novel electrochemical probe and technique to monitor biofilm activity before the biofilm has been permanently established and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) initiated. This probe includes two sets of metal electrodes isolated from each other. A power source is used to apply a potential difference of between 50 and 500 mV on the two sets of electrodes to activate the probe. Programmed timing, measuring and switching equipment and a data recording device monitors the biofilm-caused depolarization effects on the electrode sets by measuring an increase of DC current produced by the applied potential difference. The equipment also monitors DC current generated between the electrodes after removing the power source and records the AC resistance between the electrodes indicating mostly the resistance of the biofilm covering the electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel electrochemical probe and technique to monitor biofilm activity before the biofilm has been permanently established and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) initiated. This probe includes two sets of metal electrodes isolated from each other. A power source is used to apply a potential difference of between 50 and 500 mV on the two sets of electrodes to activate the probe. Programmed timing, measuring and switching equipment and a data recording device monitors the biofilm-caused depolarization effects on the electrode sets by measuring an increase of DC current produced by the applied potential difference. The equipment also monitors DC current generated between the electrodes after removing the power source and records the AC resistance between the electrodes indicating mostly the resistance of the biofilm covering the electrodes.

Abstract: An electrochemical device for measuring the concentration of oxygen in liquid alkali metal is described. Such device includes an elongated probe tube which is designed to be inserted into the liquid alkali metal whose oxygen content is of interest. A cup of a solid electrolyte material is bonded to the tube adjacent its lower end so that the outside surface of its bottom wall is in intimate contact with the liquid metal. The cup contains a mixture comprising a known concentration of one of the free metals gallium, indium and tin, and an oxide of such metal. This mixture is liquid at the temperature of operation of the device and is in intimate contact with the inner side of the bottom wall of the cup to provide a reference electrode.

Abstract: A method of determining the oxygen content of a liquid metal is disclosed and comprises measuring the EMF across an electrolytic cell in which one of the electrodes comprises the liquid metal and the other electrode is a reference electrode of a mixture comprising a known concentration of one of the metals selected from the group of gallium, indium and tin, and an oxide of said metal with the mixture being liquid at the temperature of measurement, and the electrolyte is an oxygen ion conductive, solid electrolyte body wall having a pair of opposite side surfaces with the first one of said surfaces being in intimate contact with the liquid and the other one of said surfaces being in intimate contact with said reference electrode.