ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSOR

Info

Publication number: 20130256133
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 20, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 3, 2013
Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (SUGAR LAND, TX)
Inventors: Nathan Lawrence (Wyton), Andrew Meredith (Cambridge)
Application Number: 13/883,263

Abstract

A voltammetric pH sensor, especially for characterising wellbore fluids, comprises a plurality of electrodes with a redox active organic compound attached to an electrode and having at least one functional group convertible electrochemically between reduced and oxidized forms with transfer of at least one proton between the compound and surrounding aqueous phase, wherein the compound has at least one substituent group which promotes hydrogen bonding at a said functional group and thereby increases the reaction rate of proton transfer. The substituent group may form an internal hydrogen bond with a redox-convertible group or may enhance polarity to promote electrostatic interaction with water molecules and reduce activation energy. Typical examples include alizarin or 1,2-dihydroxy-anthraquinone (RH=72-48-0), quinizarin or 1,4-dihydroxy-anthraquinone (RN=81-64-1), 2-acetoxy-benzoquinone (RN=1125-55-9), chloranil or 2,3,4,5-tetrachloro-benzoquinone (RN=118-75-2) and 1,4-diamino-2,3-dichloro-anthraquinone (RN=81-42-5) deposited on a glassy carbon electrode. In this way, anomalous measurements at low ionic strength and low concentrations of pH buffering species can be overcome.

Description

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of this invention relate to electrochemical sensors for detecting and monitoring analytes, in particular for determining pH. Fields in which the invention may be utilised include, although are not restricted to, the analysis of water at the Earth's surface and also the analysis of a subterranean fluids which may be in an aquifer or downhole in a hydrocarbon reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous circumstances in which it is desirable to detect, measure or monitor a constituent of a fluid. One of the commonest requirements is to determine hydrogen ion concentration (generally expressed on the logarithmic pH scale) in aqueous fluids which may for example be a water supply, a composition in the course of production or an effluent. The determination of the pH of a solution is one of the most common analytical measurements and can be regarded as the most critical parameter in water chemistry. Merely by way of example, pH measurement is important in the pharmaceutical industry, the food and beverage industry, the treatment and management of water and waste, chemical and biological research, hydrocarbon production and water supply monitoring. Nearly all water samples will have their pH tested at some stage during their handling as many chemical processes are dependent on pH.

It may also be desired to measure pH of a fluid downhole in a wellbore. The concentrations of some chemical species, such as H⁺ and H₂S may change significantly while tripping to the surface. The change occurs mainly due to a difference in temperature and pressure between downhole and surface environment. In case of samples taken downhole, this change may also happen due to degassing of a sample (seal failure), mineral precipitation in a sampling bottle, and chemical reaction with the sampling chamber. The value of pH is among the parameters for corrosion and scale assessment. Consequently it is of considerable importance to determine pH downhole.

One approach to pH measurements, both at the Earth's surface and downhole, employs a solid-state probe utilising redox chemistries at the surface of an electrode. Some redox active compounds (sometimes referred to as redox active species) display a redox potential which is dependent on hydrogen ion concentration in the electrolyte. By monitoring this redox potential electrochemically, pH can be determined. Voltammetry has been used as a desirable and convenient electrochemical method for monitoring the oxidation and reduction of a redox active species and it is known to immobilise the redox active species on or in proximity to an electrode.

Prior literature in this field has included WO2005/066618 which disclosed a sensor in which two different pH sensitive molecular redox systems and a pH insensitive ferrocene reference were attached to the same substrate. One pH sensitive redox system was anthraquinone (AQ) and the second was either phenanthrenequinone (PAQ) or alternatively was N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD). WO2007/034131 disclosed a sensor with two redox systems incorporated into a copolymer. WO2010/001082 disclosed a sensor in which two different pH sensitive molecular redox systems were incorporated into a single small molecule which was immobilized on an electrode. WO2010/111531 described a pH metering device using a working electrode in which a material which is sensitive to hydrogen ions (the analyte) chemically coupled to carbon and immobilised on the working electrode.

An issue with electrochemical sensors (particularly those involving detection mechanisms involving proton transfer) is the ability to make electrochemical measurements without a buffer and/or similar species that can facilitate proton transfer reactions. Measurements can be particularly difficult, and error prone, in low ionic strength media, without pH buffering species and/or other species facilitating proton transfers. Measuring the pH of rainwater, and natural waters with very low mineralization, is noted as being particularly difficult.

Merely by way of example, in water industries, such as the management of reservoirs and waste management, the samples being tested or the reservoirs being monitored may not include a buffer solution or the like. Even in non-water industries, there may be occasions when the samples being tested or the fluid being monitored have low amounts of “natural buffers”.

A pH sensor is often tested and calibrated using buffer solutions which have stable values of pH. It has been discovered that electrochemical sensors utilising an immobilized redox compound can give good results when used in a buffered aqueous solution, and yet fail to do so when used in an unbuffered solution. Batchelor-McAuley et al “Voltammetric Responses of Surface-Bound and Solution-Phase Anthraquinone Moieties in the Presence of Unbuffered Aqueous Media” J. Phys. Chem. C vol 115 pages 714-718 (2011) attribute this phenomenon to depletion of H⁺ ion concentration in the vicinity of the electrode resulting in a significant local change in pH adjacent to the electrode and thus an erroneous determination of pH within the bulk solution. In unpublished work we have tried to overcome this by use of a rotating electrode to change the mass transport regime in the vicinity of the electrode, but without appreciable success.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method able to make electrochemical measurements that are independent of buffer concentration. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a robust electrochemical sensor for accurate ion selective electrochemical measurements, including pH measurements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Surprisingly, we have found that this problem of measurement without buffer can be significantly mitigated through choice of substituents on the redox active compound which is used. Embodiments of the present invention provide an electrochemical sensor for measuring analyte, in particular hydrogen ion, concentration wherein the sensor comprises a redox species that is sensitive to the analyte and undergoes oxidation and/or reduction at a potential that is dependent on the concentration of the analyte but is substantially independent of the presence of a buffer and/or “natural” buffer elements/compounds that may facilitate proton transfer. Thus measurement can be made without buffer solution being added to the sample being tested or a “natural” buffer present in the sample. In some embodiments of the invention the analyte may be present in water, in mixed solvents or in other aqueous mixtures. In the applications principally envisaged the analyte is hydrogen ion concentration and thus the measurement is a measurement of pH.

In a first aspect this invention provides an electrochemical sensor comprising a redox active compound, which may be an organic compound, convertible electrochemically between reduced and oxidized forms with transfer of at least one proton (i.e a hydrogen atom in ionised form) between the compound and surrounding aqueous phase, wherein the compound has at least one substituent group which increases the reaction rate of proton transfer. Such a substituent group may reduce the activation energy for transfer of a proton and/or may be a substituent group which promotes hydrogen bonding at the functional group.

It is envisaged that the redox active compound will be insoluble in water. It may be immobilised on the surface of an electrode or held within a porous electrode, such as a screen printed or carbon paste electrode.

One possibility for a substituent group to promote hydrogen bonding is a group containing oxygen or nitrogen and positioned to participate in hydrogen bonding with a water molecule also able to hydrogen bond to the redox active functional group. More specifically, this substituent may be a hydroxyl group. Another possibility is a group containing a hetero atom (which is neither carbon nor hydrogen) which increases the polarity of the molecule and electrostatic interaction with water molecules in the electrolyte. Such a group may be an electron withdrawing group positioned to be able to withdraw electrons from the redox active functional group. Without limitation as to mode of action, we believe that these possibilities promote hydrogen bonding between the redox active functional group and an adjacent water molecule and this is believed to reduce the activation energy for proton transfer and so increase the reaction rate of proton transfer.

Again, without limitation as to theory, we believe that by facilitating proton transfer from the electrode to the solution the mechanism changes from a non-concerted electron, proton transfer towards a concerted process in which the electrons and protons are exchanged simultaneously, or practically simultaneously on the timescales of the measurement through fast electron-proton transfers. So in a third aspect this invention provides an electrochemical pH sensor comprising a redox active organic compound convertible electrochemically between reduced and oxidized forms with transfer of at least one electron and proton to or from the compound when it is in contact with a surrounding aqueous phase, wherein the compound has a structure such that the electron and proton transfer are concerted.

Aromatic compounds which have two groups convertible between a reduced hydroxyl form and an oxidised keto form by a two electron, two proton reaction have been previously been found to be particularly suitable as pH sensitive redox active species: anthraquinone is a common example. The present invention may use a compound of this character, with structure and substituent groups which promotes hydrogen bonding at the hydroxyl/keto functional groups and thereby increases the reaction rate of proton transfer. Thus, in another aspect this invention provides an electrochemical pH sensor comprising a redox active organic compound which is immobilized to an electrode and which comprises at least two fused aromatic rings with oxygen or nitrogen-containing substituents, convertible between reduced and oxidised forms, on adjacent fused aromatic rings in positions allowing formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the reduced form of one said substituent and the oxidised form of another said substituent.

Embodiments of electrochemical sensor according to this invention may have a plurality of electrodes with the redox active aromatic organic compound immobilized on one of the electrodes. The invention also extends to methods of measuring pH using an electrode/a sensor as specified above.

In some embodiments of this invention the sensor is provided as part of apparatus for measuring pH which also comprises means for applying varying potential to the sensor and observing one or more oxidation and reduction potentials to determine pH. A method of measuring pH according to some embodiments of this invention may comprise applying a potential to the sensor in a sweep over a range sufficient to bring about at least one oxidation and/or reduction of the redox active compound; measuring potential or potentials corresponding to one or more said oxidation and/or reductions; and processing the measurements to give a determination of pH. If more than one potential is measured, the method may comprise averaging at least two potentials and processing the average to determine the pH.

We have observed that a number of redox active compounds in accordance with this invention have an oxidation potential greater than 0.4 Volts with respect to a saturated calomel electrode, when measured in a pH 1.7 solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the result of square wave voltammetry of PAQ in buffered and unbuffered solutions, and is discussed in a comparative example;

FIG. 2 shows voltages at the current peaks in FIG. 1 plotted against pH;

FIG. 3 shows a possible mechanism for the first step of oxidation of 1,4-DHAQ and is described in Example 1;

FIG. 4 shows a possible mechanism for the first step of reduction of the oxidised form back to 1,4-DHAQ;

FIG. 5 plots voltages at peak current against pH for both redox reactions of 1,4-DHAQ and is discussed in Example 5;

FIG. 6 plots voltages at peak current against pH for conversion of 1,4-DHAQ to and from its fully oxidised form at 60° C., and is discussed in Example 6;.

FIG. 7 plots voltages at peak current against pH for conversion of dichloro benzoquinone to and from the corresponding hydroquinone, and is discussed in Example 7;

FIG. 8 plots voltages at peak current against pH for conversion of tetrachloro benzoquinone to and from the corresponding hydroquinone, and is also discussed in Example 7;

FIG. 9 plots voltages at peak current against pH for both redox reactions of tetrafluoro 1,4-DHAQ and is discussed in Example 9;

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates the surface structure of a measuring electrode with an internal reference electrode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the parts of a sensor embodying the invention;

FIG. 11a shows another electrode construction;

FIG. 12 illustrates the geometrical surface layout of the surface of a sensor;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partially cut-away, of an electrochemical sensor incorporating the surface of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of a cable-suspended tool for testing water;

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of an electrochemical sensor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as part of a wireline formation testing apparatus in a wellbore;

FIG. 16 illustrates a working electrode covered at least in part by a polymer layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION/EXAMPLES

The following so called “scheme of squares” for the two electron two proton redox conversion of anthraquinone (AQ) to and from anthrahydroquinone which is its corresponding reduced form shows that the reaction can proceed through a number of intermediates which are unstable in water:

This reaction scheme is the accepted mechanism in aqueous buffered media.

If the electrochemical reaction is examined by cyclic voltammetry, the response shows oxidative peak and reductive peak currents at different voltages (more strictly, at different applied potentials relative to a reference electrode). The voltage at the oxidative current peak is higher than the voltage at the reductive current peak. The theory of voltammetry and its application to measurements are both well developed. The subject is discussed in WO 2005/066618 above and is covered in standard textbooks, such as A J Bard and L Faulkner “Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications” (2^nded 2001).

The voltages at which the oxidative peak current and reductive peak current occur are linearly dependent on pH and a straight line plot of peak current voltage against pH can be obtained by determining peak current voltages in a number of buffer solutions of known pH. Because the voltages of the oxidative peak current and reductive peak current are both linearly dependent on pH, a straight line through data points can be obtained by plotting voltages at either oxidative peak current or reductive peak current against pH. A straight line scan also be obtained by plotting the mean of these two voltages against pH. With all three of these possibilities the resulting straight line plot can then serve as calibration for determining pH of other aqueous liquids.

This dependence of voltage at peak current on pH is a general phenomenon observed with quinones and other compounds which undergo two electron two proton redox reactions, and also with compounds which undergo one electron one proton reactions.

As already mentioned, it has been observed that data points obtained in unbuffered solutions do not lie on the straight line through the points obtained in buffer solutions and so indicate an anomalous value of pH. The inventors have now discovered that some redox active compounds, when immobilised on an electrode, reduce the anomalies in an unbuffered system. In embodiments of the invention, the compounds have structures and substituents which enhance hydrogen bonding to the water which is in contact with the electrode.

In one category of compounds the hydrogen bonding is enhanced by structure which allows the formation of an internal hydrogen bond with the group which is redox active. This may be an internal hydrogen bond between an appropriately positioned keto group and a hydroxy group capable of oxidation to a keto group. Such an internal hydrogen bond assists in the formation of an external hydrogen bond with an adjacent water molecule which in turn reduces the activation energy for proton transfer. A number of structures are possible. The structure may incorporate a partial structure which is

where the three carbon atoms are joined by conjugated bonds with delocalised electrons. Such a structure could be provided by an acetyl substituent on an aromatic ring, adjacent to a hydroxyl or keto group, as for example in 2-acetyl hydroquinone. However, all three carbon atoms may be in a fused aromatic ring structure which may be depicted as

where X and Y denote the remainder of fused aromatic rings. These rings may bear substituents and may be fused with further aromatic or aliphatic rings.

In some embodiments the rings each have two redox active oxygen-containing substituents so that they are convertible between dihydroxy and diketo forms. Possibly only one of the two oxygen-containing substituent on each ring is positioned to form an internal hydrogen bond and this may accelerate the first proton transfer of a two electron two proton redox reaction. An example of such a compound is 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,2-DHAQ) which has the formula

In another category of compounds, hydrogen bonding to adjacent water molecules is enhanced by electron withdrawing substituents which may be halogen atoms. A compound may have one, preferably two oxygen containing substituents on an aromatic ring and a number of electron withdrawing substituents on that ring or connected to that ring through conjugated bonds, as is the case with substituents on one or more further aromatic rings which are fused with the first ring.

An example compound with two oxygen containing substituents and four electron withdrawing groups is tetra bromo catechol which has the formula

A number of examples will now be set out, demonstrating the known anomaly in pH determinations and the reduction or avoidance of anomalous pH determinations by compounds in accordance with this invention. These examples all used the same procedure for immobilising redox compounds on an electrode and used similar procedures for carrying out voltammetric measurements. In these examples a water-insoluble redox compound to be examined was dissolved at a concentration of 1 mg/ml in dichloromethane. 10 microlitre of this solution was applied to the surface of a glassy carbon electrode and allowed to evaporate, thus depositing the redox compound on the electrode surface.

Such an electrode was then used for the voltammetric measurement of the electromotive force (e.m.f.) or potential E in a potentiometric cell. The cell was also equipped with a platinum wire counter electrode and a saturated calomel reference electrode. A potentiostat was used to carry out square wave voltammetry, measuring and recording the current which flows as the applied voltage is varied. Suitable potentiostats are available from Eco Chemie BV, Utrecht, Netherlands

The electrodes with redox compounds deposited on them were used for voltammetry with standard buffer solutions as electrolyte of the cell. The voltages (i.e. applied potentials) at which the oxidative and reductive currents reached their maxima were recorded as the voltage differences from the reference electrode.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

For this example the test electrode had phenanthraquinone (PAQ) deposited on it in the manner described above. A pH insensitive electrode was prepared in the same way, using ferrocene as the redox compound. This electrode and the test electrode were electrically connected. FIG. 1 shows as continuous curves the oxidative responses obtained by square wave voltammetry in pH 4, pH 7 and pH 9 buffers. The voltages at oxidative peak currents were plotted against pH as shown as FIG. 2. The data points obtained in buffer solutions lie on an obvious straight line which serves as a calibration for measuring the pH of other solutions.

FIG. 1 also shows (as a dotted line) the voltammetric response when the electrolyte was unbuffered 0.1 molar sodium chloride solution at pH 7. The oxidative peak current was at an anomalous low voltage, erroneously indicating a pH above 10. This anomalous data point is shown circled in FIG. 2. This anomaly is also observed with anthraquinone (AQ) and other redox active molecules and has been reported by the Batchelor McAuley et al paper mentioned earlier.

Example 1

The procedure above was used to test four water-insoluble redox compounds with structures and redox reactions as follows:

When the electrodes with the compounds thereon were used in the above procedure using standard buffers, straight calibration lines were obtained for each of them. However, when used to measure pH of unbuffered water samples having pH of 8.06 and 7.92 as determined by a glass electrode, the measured oxidative peak voltage corresponded to the following pH values:

Redox Determined pH for water Determined pH for water compound sample A (actual pH 8.06) sample B (actual pH 7.92) AQ 9.73 9.32 PAQ 9.90 9.21 1,4-DHAQ 8.13 7.86 1,2-DHAQ 7.90 7.84

It can be seen that the hydroxy substituted compounds give a measurement of pH which is very close to the value obtained with the glass electrode even though the water samples are not buffered. Without wishing to be bound as to theory, we attribute this to the hydroxy substituents facilitating inter and intra molecular hydrogen bonding for the reduced and oxidized dihydroxyanthraquinone structures within the very short timescale of the proton transfer. This hydrogen bonding reduces the activation energy and facilitates proton transfer to form the unstable intermediates in the oxidation or reduction reaction through electron and proton transfers which are concerted or nearly so.

FIG. 3 shows two possible mechanisms for the first stage of the oxidation of 1,4-DHAQ. In the mechanism at the top of FIG. 3 electron transfer precedes proton transfer. In the other mechanism proton transfer takes place first. It is possible that both mechanisms occur. In both cases an internal hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group and an internal keto oxygen atom forms a ring structure which lowers the activation energy for hydrogen bonding to a water molecule prior to loss of a proton as H₃O⁺.

FIG. 4 shows two possible mechanisms for the converse reaction, the corresponding reduction with electron transfer either after or before proton transfer. Again both mechanisms may be occurring. In both mechanisms the adjacent keto oxygen atoms can both hydrogen bond to a water molecule lowering the activation energy for abstraction of a proton from that water molecule.

As a consequence of the enhancement of hydrogen bonding by these structures and lowering of the activation energy for proton transfer, the electron and proton transfers become almost simultaneous i.e. they are concerted or nearly so.

Example 2

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using unbuffered 0.1 molar potassium chloride solutions as electrolyte. This was done for the two dihydroxyanthraquinones used in Example 1 and also for 1,4-dihydroxynaphthoquinone whose redox conversion to and from a fully oxidised form is

The pH values of the solutions obtained from voltammetry as above and also as measured with a glass electrode are given in the following table:

pH determined by pH measured with Compound voltammetry glass electrode 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone 6.52 6.35 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone 6.48 6.53 1,4-dihydroxynapthoquinone 6.24 6.35

Example 3

Further evidence that hydrogen bonding takes place and brings about proton transfer was obtained using the following compound, 2,3-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-1,4-anthracenedione which undergoes two electron two proton redox reaction as shown

This compound has two keto groups in an aliphatic cyclohexene ring (the left hand ring in the formulae above) which is fused with one ring of a dihydroxy naphthalene structure. This dihydroxy naphthalene portion of the molecule undergoes a two electron two proton redox process. Voltammetry using buffer solutions showed that voltage at peak current was linearly dependent on pH but measurement in unbuffered salt solution showed an anomalous pH value. The pH value determined by voltammetry was 8.13 whereas the true value measured with a glass electrode was 7.31.

This difference in behaviour compared to 1,4-DHAQ was attributed to the aliphatic ring positioning its keto oxygen atoms out of the plane of the naphthalene rings, so that internal hydrogen bonding was diminished or not possible.

Example 4

Aromatic compounds with two amino substituents can undergo electrochemical oxidation of these groups to an imino form. It would be expected that diamino anthraquinones would form internal hydrogen bonds in a similar manner to dihydroxyanthraquinones.

The procedure of Example 1 was used to test 1,4-DHAQ and also its homologue with an isopropyl group on each nitrogen atom. It was found that the voltammetric responses were complex, apparently because the voltammetry was simultaneously observing redox reaction and protonation at the nitrogen atoms.

The same procedure was then applied to 2,3-dichloro-1,4-diamino-anthraquinone (DCDAAQ). This was found to display useful voltammetry, because the electron-withdrawing chlorine atoms lower the pKa of the amino groups so that protonation is not an interfering effect. The molecule can undergo electrochemical oxidation thus:

In buffer solutions the voltages at oxidative peak current were observed to be linearly dependent on pH. In an unbuffered watersample with actual pH by glass electrode of 7.89 the pH determined through voltammetry was 7.89. With another unbuffered water sample with actual pH by glass electrode of 7.13 the pH determined through voltammetry was also 7.13.

Example 5

1,4-dihydroxyanthroquinone can undergo reduction to a compound with four hydroxy groups as well as oxidation to a compound with four keto groups, thus:

The two redox reactions have peak currents at different voltages. Voltammetry was carried out using an electrode with this compound deposited on it, using a voltammetric sweep of sufficient width to observe both reactions. The results are shown in FIG. 5. For this figure the voltages at the oxidative peak current and corresponding reductive peak current were averaged. The lower line shown in FIG. 5 connects the results obtained in buffer solutions for the conversion to and from the fully reduced form with four hydroxy groups which is the reaction A above. The upper line in FIG. 5 connects the results obtained in buffer solutions for the conversion to and from the fully oxidized form with four keto groups, which is reaction B above.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, both sets of results in buffer solution showed that voltage at peak current is linearly dependent on pH. For the reaction B, the data points obtained in unbuffered KCl solution and in unbuffered water also lie on this line (as has already been discussed in Examples 1 and 2 above). However, for the reaction on the left the data points in unbuffered KCl and water are somewhat inconsistent with pH as measured with a glass electrode and are spaced away from the lower line in FIG. 5. This was attributed to the free rotation of hydroxyl groups giving less effective hydrogen bonding within the time scale of the redox reaction.

The procedure of this example was repeated with the compounds 1,2-DHAQ, 1,4-DHNQ and DCDAAC mentioned in previous examples. In each case the results were the observation was the same: the data points obtained by voltammetry in unbuffered water samples lay on the upper line (conversion to and from the fully oxidised form) but not on the lower line (conversion to and from the fully reduced form).

Example 6

Experiments as in Examples 1 and 2 using 1,4-DHAQ were repeated with the solutions maintained at 60° C. As shown by FIG. 6, the results obtained in buffer solutions lie on a straight line. The data points in unbuffered water and unbuffered 0.1 molar KCl are shown circled and it can be seen that they lie close to the line.

Example 7

Experiments as in Examples 1 and 2 were carried out using dichloro- and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone, which have the following structures:

Both of these can undergo reduction to the corresponding hydroquinone. The voltages at oxidative peak and reductive peak currents observed by square wave voltammetry were averaged and plotted against pH as measured with a glass electrode, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

For both compounds the values obtained in buffer solutions showed that voltage at peak current is linearly dependent on pH as shown by the straight lines plotted in FIGS. 7 and 8. With the dichloro compound, the results obtained in unbuffered water having a pH of 7.3 measured with a glass electrode and unbuffered KCl solution having a measured pH of 6.3 are anomalous and lie off the straight line. These results are circled in FIG. 7. For the tetrachloro compound, the results obtained in the unbuffered water and KCl solutions (shown circled in FIG. 8) lie on the line.

Without wishing to be limited as to theory, it appears that the halogen substituents are making the molecule more polar and more able to participate in electrostatic interaction with water molecules in the electrolyte. More specifically we attribute this observation to the electron withdrawing halogen substituents having an effect on the surrounding water molecules and making it easier for hydrogen bonding to take place, both in the reductive and the oxidative directions of reaction, thereby reducing the activation energy for the first step of reaction. When there are four halogen substituents on the aromatic ring this effect is sufficiently large that the electron and proton transfers become concerted, or nearly so.

Example 8

Tetra bromo catechol was tested as Example 1. En buffer solutions the voltages at oxidative peak current were observed to be linearly dependent on pH. Moreover, with the unbuffered watersamples as used in example 1 the values pH obtained were approximately correct. With water sample A with actual pH by glass electrode of 8.06 the pH determined through voltammetry was 8.22. With water sample B with actual pH by glass electrode of 7.92 the pH determined through voltammetry was 8.20.

These good results in unbuffered water were attributed to the electron withdrawing effect of bromine atoms, directly analogous to the result with tetrachloro benzoquinone in the previous example.

Example 9

The procedure of Example 5 was repeated using the compound 1,2,3,4-tetra fluoro-5,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (tF-DHAQ) which is a tetra fluoro analogue of 1,4-DHAQ used in Example 5. It can likewise undergo conversion to a reduced form with four hydroxy groups and conversion to an oxidised form with four keto groups as shown:

The results are shown in FIG. 9. As before in buffer solutions the data points lie on straight lines indicating that voltage at peak current is linearly dependent on pH. But in contrast to Example 5 the data points (circled) for conversion to and from the fully oxidised form in unbuffered water and KCl solution do not lie on the upper line while the data points for conversion to and from the fully reduced form lie close to the lower line.

Without being bound by theory, we believe that the electron withdrawing effect of the fluorine atoms on the benzyl ring significantly weakens the intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the quinone moiety and the hydroxyl moiety so that oxidation to the fully oxidised diketo compound which is reaction B above, is not as facile as in the case of 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone. In contrast the electron withdrawing effect of the fluorine atoms facilitates the oxidation and reduction of the first quinone species in reaction A in an analogous manner to that observed with t-chlorobenzoquinone.

The oxidation potentials of some of the compounds mentioned in the previous examples were determined in buffer solutions having a pH of 1.7. The oxidation potential of anthraquinone was also measured under the same conditions. The potentials were measured relative to a standard calomel electrode and the results obtained were:

1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone 0.68 volt 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone 0.88 volt tetrabromocatechol 0.52 volt anthraquinone −0.20 volt

In some embodiments of this invention a redox active compound which is sensitive to the analyte concentration/pH may be used jointly with a redox active compound which is substantially insensitive to the concentration of analyte/pH. This species which is independent of analyte concentration may function as a reference and the potential of the sensitive compound may be determined relative to the potential of the compound which is insensitive to the concentration of analyte/pH. Possible reference molecules, insensitive to hydrogen ion concentration are K₅Mo(CN)₈and molecules containing ferrocene such as potassium t-butylferrocene sulfonate.

When a redox active compound which is sensitive to the analyte concentration/pH is immobilized on an electrode, a reference redox active compound which is substantially insensitive to the concentration of analyte/pH may be immobilized on the same electrode or on another electrode. FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a pH-sensitive compound, 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone, and a pH-insensitive compound, t-butylferrocene sulfonate, immobilized on the same conductive electrode substrate 20. Immobilization on separate electrodes would avoid any risk that deposition of a second compound on an electrode overlies and hides one already deposited and so ensure that both redox active compounds are accessible to the surrounding solution. The two electrodes may then be connected together so that only a single voltammetric sweep is required:

In the experimental examples above, the redox active compound was immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode by evaporation of a solution or suspension, thus associating a redox active compound with a conductive electrode material, so that the redox active compound is held close to conductive material. Other forms of carbon may be used for electrodes. The most common forms of conducting carbon used in electrode manufacture are glassy carbon, carbon fibres, carbon black, various forms of graphite, carbon paste and carbon epoxy. One further form of carbon, which has seen a large expansion in its use in the field of electrochemistry since its discovery in 1991 is the carbon nanotube (CNT). The structure of CNTs approximates to rolled-up sheets of graphite and can be formed as either single or multi-walled tubes. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) constitute a single, hollow graphite tube. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the other hand consist of several concentric tubes fitted one inside the other. Untreated multi-walled nanotubes can be purchased from commercial vendors, for example from Nano-Lab Inc of Brighton, Mass., USA in 95% purity with a diameter of 30+/−15 nm and a length of 5-20 μm.

Another possible way of immobilizing redox active compounds onto an electrode is by packing a mixture of the compounds and carbon powder into a recessed cavity in an electrode without using a binding substance. The carbon powder could be mixed with the pH-sensitive redox active compound and any reference compound and ground finely with a mortar and pestle. Then the empty recess might be filled with the powder mix which would be mechanically compacted. The resulting void in the recess would then be refilled and compacted again. This would be repeated several times until the recess is full. The material would be pressed such that the particles are packed into a dense matrix.

The above method results in physical attachment of redox active compound(s) to an electrode. A further possibility is chemical attachment of redox compound(s) to carbon. This is referred to as “derivitising” the carbon. A possible method for derivitising carbon is the chemical reduction of aryldiazonium salts with hypophosphorous acid.

An example of preparation process for derivatised MWCNT involves the following steps: first 50 mg of MWCNTs are stirred into 10 cm³of a diazonium salt of the redox active compound and 50 cm³of hypophosphorous acid (H₃PO₂, 50% w/w in water) is added. Next the solution is allowed to stand at 5° C. for 30 minutes with gentle stirring. After this the solution is filtered by water suction in order to remove any unreacted species from the MWCNT surface. Further washing with deionized water is carried out to remove any excess acid and finally with acetonitrile to remove any unreacted diazonium salt from the mixture. The derivatised MWCNTs are then air-dried by placing them inside a fume hood for a period of 12 hours after which they are stored in an airtight container prior to use.

The reduction of diazonium salts using hypophosphorous acid is a versatile technique for the derivatization of bulk graphite powder and MWCNTs. Derivitisation may also be carried out using a very strong base to convert a precursor to a reactive carbene which then forms covalent bonds to a carbon surface, as described in WO2010/106404.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a redox active compound which is sensitive to the analyte concentration/pH may be screen printed onto a substrate which may be an insulating material. A second redox active compound that is insensitive to analyte/pH and acts as a reference may be screen printed onto the same or another substrate. The redox active species, whether sensitive or insensitive to analyte/pH may be combined with a binding material, which may be a conductive binding material such as a graphite-containing ink, and then screen printed onto the electrode. In these embodiments, a simple screen printed substrate may provide a pH sensor that does not require a buffer. An external reference electrode may possibly be used with the screen-printed electrode. One possible external reference is a silver/silver-chloride electrode. A screen-printed electrode may possibly carry such an external reference electrode on a portion of an insulating substrate. A pH sensitive and/or pH insensitive redox species may also be applied to the working electrode by an inkjet-type process in combination with a binder, such as ink.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an electrochemical sensor for measuring an analyte and/or pH, comprising one or more redox active compounds sensitive to the analyte/pH and coupled with an electrode to provide for detection/measurement of the analyte/pH, wherein the electrode is at least partially covered by a polymer coating. A screen-printed electrode may possibly be covered with a film or coating, such as a polymer film or coating. The polymer film or coating may, among other things, make the electrode more robust, prevent external adverse effects of the redox species, and allow for sterilization of the electrode without affecting the functionality of the electrode.

Some embodiments of electrochemical sensor in accordance with this invention include a temperature probe for measuring a temperature of the fluid, wherein the temperature measurement may be used to calibrate the electrochemical sensor.

A sensor in accordance with this invention could be incorporated into a wide variety of tools and equipment. Possibilities include use in tools which are located permanently downhole, use in tools which are conveyed downhole, for instance at the head of coiled tubing or by drillpipe or on a wireline, use in underground, undersea or surface pipeline equipment to monitor liquid flowing in the pipeline, and use in a wide variety of process plant at the Earth's surface, including use in water treatment.

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates component parts which may be used in a sensor. There is a working electrode 32 comprising a conductive material with 1,4-DHAQ or other redox active compound as described above immobilized on its surface, and a second electrode 34 which is also a conductive material but which has ferrocene immobilized on its surface and which serves as a voltage reference, and a counter electrode 36. All the electrodes are connected as indicated at 38 to a potentiostat 62 or other control unit which provides electric power and measurement. This arrangement avoids a need for a standard reference electrode such as a standard calomel electrode. However, another possibility would be to provide such a standard electrode, as shown by broken lines at 35 and possibly dispense with the ferrocene electrode 34. The various electrodes are immersed in or otherwise exposed to fluid whose pH is to be measured.

Measuring apparatus may comprise both a sensor and a control unit providing both electrical power and measurement. A control unit such as 62 may comprise a power supply, voltage supply, potentiostat and/or the like for applying an electrical potential to the working electrode 32 and a detector, such as a voltmeter, a potentiometer, ammeter, resistometer or a circuit for measuring voltage and/or current and converting to a digital output, for measuring a potential between the working electrode 32 and the counter electrode 36 and/or the reference electrode 34 or 35 and for measuring a current flowing between the working electrode 32 and the counter electrode 36 (where the current flow will change as a result of the oxidation/reduction of a redox species). The control unit may in particular be a potentiostat. Suitable potentiostats are available from Eco Chemie BV, Utrecht, Netherlands.

A control unit 62 which is a potentiostat may sweep a voltage difference across the electrodes and carry out voltammetry so that, for example, linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, or square wave voltammetry may be used to obtain measurements of the analyte using the electrochemical sensor. The control unit 62 may include signal processing electronics.

FIG. 11a shows a possible variation. A conductive paste containing a pH sensitive redox compound is printed on one area 46 of an insulating substrate 45 to provide an electrode 32. A second conductive paste containing a pH insensitive ferrocene compound is printed on an area 47 as a reference electrode and both areas 46,47 are connected together and to a control unit by conductive tracks 48 on the substrate.

FIG. 12 shows a possible geometric configuration or layout for the surface 40 of a sensor which is exposed to the fluid to be tested, which may, merely by-way of example be a wellbore fluid. The surface includes a disk shaped working electrode 32, a second electrode 43, which may be a ferrocene electrode or an external reference electrode such as a silver/silver chloride electrode, and a counter electrode 36.

A schematic of a microsensor 50 incorporating such a surface is shown in FIG. 13. The body 51 of the sensor is fixed into the end section of an opening 52. The body carries the electrode surface 511 and contacts 512 that provide connection points to voltage supply and measurement through a small channel 521 at the bottom of the opening 52. A sealing ring 513 protects the contact points and electronics from the fluid to be tested that passes under operation conditions through the sample channel 53.

An application of an embodiment of the present invention may be in the monitoring of underground bodies of water for the purposes of resource management. From monitoring wells drilled into the aquifers, one or more sensors, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, may be deployed on a cable from the surface—either for short duration (as part of a logging operation) or longer term (as part of a monitoring application). FIG. 14 illustrates a tool for investigating subterranean water. This tool has a cylindrical body 72 which is suspended from a cable 75. A sensor unit such as the body 51 shown in FIG. 12 is accommodated within the body so that its surface 40 is exposed to the subterranean water. The tool also encloses also encloses a unit 62 for supplying voltage to the electrodes of the sensor unit 51, measuring the current which flows and transmitting the results to the surface.

The deployment of such a pH sensor within producing wells on a cable may provide information on produced water quality. Also, the pH sensor may be deployed in injection wells, e.g. when water is injected into an aquifer for later retrieval, where pH may be used to monitor the quality of the water being injected or retrieved.

FIG. 15 shows a formation testing apparatus 810 held on a wireline 812 within a wellbore 814. The apparatus 810 is a well-known modular dynamic tester (MDT, Trade Mark of Schlumberger) as described in the co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,851 to Urbanosky, U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,575 to Urbanosky and U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,671 to Safinya et al., with this known tester being modified by introduction of an electrochemical analyzing sensor 816 substantially similar to sensor 50 of FIG. 12 The modular dynamics tester comprises body 820 approximately 30 m long and containing a main flowline bus or conduit 822. The analysing tool 816 communicates with the flowline 822 via opening 817. In addition to the novel sensor system 816, the testing apparatus comprises an optical fluid analyser 830 within the lower part of the flowline 822. The flow through the flowline 822 is driven by means of a pump 832 located towards the upper end of the flowline 822. Hydraulic arms 834 and counterarms 835 are attached external to the body 820 and carry a sample probe tip 836 for sampling fluid. The base of the probing tip 836 is isolated from the wellbore 814 by an o-ring 840, or other sealing devices, e.g. packers.

Before completion of a well, the modular dynamics tester is lowered into the well on the wireline 812. After reaching a target depth, i.e., the layer 842 of the formation which is to be sampled, the hydraulic arms 834 are extended to engage the sample probe tip 836 with the formation. The o-ring 840 at the base of the sample probe 836 forms a seal between the side of the wellbore 844 and the formation 842 into which the probe 836 is inserted and prevents the sample probe 136 from acquiring fluid directly from the borehole 814.

Once the sample probe 836 is inserted into the formation 842, an electrical signal is passed down the wireline 812 from the surface so as to start the pump 832 and the sensor systems 816 and 830 to begin sampling of a sample of fluid from the formation 842. The electrochemical sensor 816 can then measure the pH of the formation effluent.

While the preceding uses of the electrochemical sensor are in the hydrocarbon and water industries, embodiments of the present invention may provide an electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte in a whole host of industries, including food processing, pharmaceutical, medical, water management and treatment, biochemistry, research laboratories and/or the like.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a screen-printed electrode may be used in combination with a hand-held potentiostat to perform a range of electrochemical measurements. Merely by way of example, screen printed carbon electrodes may be fabricated using stencil designs to delineate the components of the electrode. In certain aspects, the constituents of the electrode may be sequentially deposited onto the electrode. By way of example, carbon/graphite may be deposited onto a reference electrode comprising a substrate, which may comprise a plastic, polyester and/or the like. A reference electrode, such as silver/silver-chloride and or the like may then be deposited as a paste onto the electrode. The redox species for the electrode may be mixed within a carbon-graphite ink and deposited on the electrode. In certain aspects, dielectric compounds may be used as binders for the screen-printed working electrode. Finally, in some aspects, the electrode may be dried, possibly using an oven. In some embodiments, a polymer coating may be applied on top of the electrode.

A polymer coating may prevent diffusion of a redox species from the working electrode, but still allow for interactions between an analyte and one or more of the redox species disposed on the working electrode. FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of a working electrode 1110 with polymer coating covering at least a portion of the working electrode. This working electrode 1110 is coupled with/comprises a redox species 1120 sensitive to an analyte 1135 to be detected and a reference redox species which is insensitive to the analyte. The analyte 1135 (which may be hydrogen ions) may be found in a fluid 1130 in contact with the electrode 1110. The fluid 1130 may be a fluid that is being tested or may comprise a fluid into which the analyte is deposited/diffused, for example by diffusion from a sample flowing over a membrane (not shown) contacting the fluid 1130.

The polymer coating 1100 may serve to prevent leaching, diffusion and/or the like of the redox species 1120, 1123 into the fluid 1130. This may be important where it is not desirable to contaminate the fluid 1130, for example the fluid may be water in a water treatment process, a batch of a pharmaceutical process, a food substance or the like. In other aspects, the electrochemical sensor/working electrode may be subject to human contact in use and it may be desirable to prevent such contact with the redox species. Alternatively or in addition, the application of the polymer coating 1100 to the working electrode 1110 may serve to anchor the redox species 1120, 1123 to the working electrode 1110. As such, methods of fabrication of the working electrode may be used wherein the redox species are not chemically coupled to the working electrode 1110. At the same time, the polymer coating 1100 should allow the fluid 1130 and/or the analyte 1135 to permeate, diffuse or otherwise come into contact with the redox species 1120 on the working electrode 1110.

Merely by way of example the polymer coating 1100 may comprise a polysulphone polymer or a polystyrene polymer. Other polymers may be used provided the polymers do not interfere with the operation of the sensor.

Methods to deposit the polymer in a generally uniform layer over the working electrode 1110 include spin coating onto the working electrode 1110, dip coating onto the working electrode 1110, and application using solvent evaporation onto the working electrode 1110. A screen printing process may possibly be used to apply the sensitive redox species 1120, the insensitive redox species 1123 and/or the polymer coating 1100 to the working electrode 1110.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. An electrochemical sensor comprising a redox active organic compound immobilized to an electrode and having a functional group convertible electrochemically between reduced and oxidized forms with transfer of at least one proton between the compound and surrounding aqueous phase,

wherein the compound has at least one substituent group containing oxygen or nitrogen and positioned to participate in internal hydrogen bonding at the functional group.

20. A sensor according to claim 19, wherein said redox active organic compound incorporates a partial structure wherein the carbon atoms are joined by conjugated bonds.

21. A sensor according to claim 19, wherein the redox active organic compound comprises at least two fused aromatic rings with oxygen or nitrogen-containing substituents, convertible between reduced and oxidized forms, on adjacent fused aromatic rings in positions allowing formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the reduced form of one said substituent and the oxidized form of another said substituent.

22. A sensor according to claim 21, wherein the redox active organic compound has two oxygen-containing substituents, convertible between hydroxyl and keto forms, on a first aromatic ring and at least two oxygen-containing substituents, convertible between hydroxyl and keto forms, on a second aromatic ring fused with the first said ring, with at least two of said substituents in positions allowing formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl form of one said substituent on one ring and the keto form of another said substituent on the other said ring.

23. A sensor according to claim 19, wherein the redox active organic compound is selected from 2-acetylbenzoquinone, 2,3-diacetylbenzoquinone, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthoquinone, 1,4-dihydroxynaphthoquinone and homologues and analogues of these compounds which have additional substituents or have additional rings fused with the benzoquinone or naphthoquinone rings, and wherein the keto groups of the benzoquinone or napthoquinone may be in ortho or para positions relative to each other.

24. A sensor according to claim 19, comprising a plurality of electrodes with the redox active organic compound immobilized on one of the electrodes.

25. A sensor according to claim 19, wherein oxidation and/or reduction of said redox active compound is sensitive to pH and the sensor further comprises a second redox active compound as a reference, immobilized to the same or another electrode, the oxidation and reduction of the second redox active compound are substantially insensitive to pH.

26. A sensor according to claim 19, wherein the redox active organic compound has a structure with at least one substituent group configured such that the electron and proton transfer are concerted.

27. Measuring apparatus comprising a sensor according to claim 19, together with means to apply variable voltage to the sensor and measure current while the voltage is systematically varied.

28. A downhole tool for measuring characteristic parameters of wellbore fluids, comprising an electrochemical sensor in accordance with claim 19.

29. A method of measuring the pH of water or other aqueous liquid comprising exposing the water or other aqueous liquid to a sensor according to claim 19, applying variable potential to the electrode with the redox-active organic compound immobilized thereon and determining the applied potential at a maximum current for redox reaction of the compound.

30. A method of measuring the pH of unbuffered aqueous liquid comprising

exposing the aqueous liquid to a sensor comprising a redox active compound immobilized to an electrode and having at least one functional group convertible electrochemically between reduced and oxidized forms with transfer of at least one proton between the compound and surrounding aqueous liquid, the electrochemical conversion being sensitive to the pH of the aqueous liquid;

wherein the compound has at least one substituent group which increases the reaction rate of proton transfer by reducing the activation energy for transfer of a proton and/or promoting hydrogen bonding at a said functional group;

applying variable potential to the electrode with the redox-active compound immobilized thereon; and

determining the applied potential at a maximum current for redox reaction of the compound.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said at least one substituent group is a substituent group containing oxygen or nitrogen and positioned to participate in internal hydrogen bonding.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said at least one substituent group is an electron withdrawing group.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein said redox active organic compound incorporates a partial structure wherein the carbon atoms are joined by conjugated bonds.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein the redox active organic compound comprises at least two fused aromatic rings with oxygen or nitrogen-containing substituents, convertible between reduced and oxidized forms, on adjacent fused aromatic rings in positions allowing formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the reduced form of one said substituent and the oxidized form of another said substituent.

35. A sensor according to claim 34, wherein the redox active organic compound has two oxygen-containing substituents, convertible between hydroxyl and keto forms, on a first aromatic ring and at least two oxygen-containing substituents, also convertible between hydroxyl and keto forms, on a second aromatic ring fused with the first said ring, with at least two of said substituents in positions allowing formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl form of one said substituent on one ring and the keto form of another said substituent on the other said ring.

36. A sensor according to claim 34, wherein the redox active organic compound comprises at least two fused aromatic rings with two oxygen-containing substituents, convertible between reduced (hydroxyl) and oxidized (keto) forms, on a first aromatic ring and at least two nitrogen containing substituents, also convertible between reduced and oxidized forms, on a second aromatic ring fused with the first said ring, with at least two of said substituents in positions allowing formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the reduced form of a nitrogen-containing substituent on one ring and the keto form of an oxygen-containing substituent on the other said ring, the compound further having electron withdrawing substituents reducing the basicity of the nitrogen-containing substituents.

37. An electrochemical sensor according to claim 31, wherein the redox active organic compound comprises at least one aromatic ring with at least one oxygen-containing substituent thereon, convertible between hydroxyl and keto forms and at least two substituents are located on said ring or connected thereto through conjugated bonds and contain atoms other than carbon or hydrogen and increase the polarity of the molecule.

38. A sensor according to claim 37, wherein the said substituents are halogen atoms.

39. A sensor according to claim 37, wherein the redox active organic compound comprises at least one aromatic ring with two oxygen-containing substituents thereon, convertible between hydroxyl and keto forms, and at least three halogen atoms as substituents on said ring or on one or more adjacent aromatic rings fused with the first said ring.

40. A method according to claim 30, wherein the redox active organic compound is selected from trihalobenzoquinone, tetrahalobenzoquinone, 1,4-diamino-2,3-dihalo-naphthoquinone, 2-acetylbenzoquinone, 2,3-diacetylbenzoquinone, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthoquinone, 1,4-dihydroxynaphthoquinone and homolgues and analogues of these compounds which have additional substituents or have additional rings fused with the benzoquinone or naphthoquinone rings, and wherein the keto groups of the benzoquinone or napthoquinone are in ortho or para positions relative to each other.

41. A method according to claim 30, wherein the sensor further comprises a second redox active compound as a reference, immobilized to the same or another electrode, the oxidation and reduction of the second redox active compound being substantially insensitive to pH of the aqueous liquid.