Laboratory test system to measure microbial respiration rate
by M. Van Afferden, A.M. Hansen, C. Kaiser, N. Chapelain
International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP), Vol. 26, No. 1/2/3, 2006

Abstract: This study reports a sensible, accurate and economic method for continuous measuring microbial respiration. The measuring principle is an open system, with a continuous air-flow through. Evolved CO₂ is absorbed and precipitated as carbonate by a Ba(OH)₂ solution, causing a stoichiometrical decrease in ionic strength of the solution and in electrical conductivity. Conductivity and Ba(OH)₂ concentration correlate over a range of more than three orders of magnitude with a determination coefficient of r² = 0.999. Between 20°C and 50°C and Ba(OH)₂ concentrations of up to 0.099M, an automated temperature correction was developed. The system detects evolved CO₂ quantitatively up to a maximum of 0.22 mmol O₂ min^-1 (825 mbar, 20°C) before limiting microbial respiration. A maximum CO₂ flow of 1.06 mmol min^-1 is quantitatively absorbed under these conditions. The method was applied to characterise soil respiration of a soil sample from an agricultural experimental site in Tabasco, Mexico.

Online publication date: Thu, 02-Mar-2006

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