Zirconia Oxygen Analysis
Measuring Gas with Zirconia Oxygen Analyzer from Systech
The zirconia oxygen analyzer is suitable for measurements of ppm to % levels of oxygen in a gas or mixture of gases. The zirconia cell is an electrochemical galvanic cell employing a high temperature ceramic sensor containing stabilised zirconium oxide.
Within an instrument the zirconia cell is mounted in a temperature controlled furnace with the necessary electronics to process the signal from the detection cell. Typically measurements are displayed directly via a digital display as oxygen concentration over the range 0.01ppm to 100%.
The theory behind Systech’s zirconia oxygen analyzer
The zirconia cell is a high temperature ceramic sensor. It is an electrochemical galvanic cell comprising of two electrically conducting, chemically inert, electrodes attached to either side of a solid electrolyte tube. This is shown schematically in Figure 1 below.
The tube is completely gas tight and made of a ceramic (stabilised zirconium oxide) which, at the temperature of operation, conducts electricity by means of oxygen ions. (Note: In sensors of this type, the temperature has to be above 450°C before they become active as an electrolyte conductor). The potential difference across the cell is given by the Nernst equation.
Where:
E is the potential difference (volts)
R is the gas constant (8.314 J mol-1 K-1)
T is the absolute temperature (K)
F is the Faraday constant (96484 coulomb mol-1)
P1 & P2 are the partial pressures of the oxygen on either side of the zirconia tube
Thus, if the oxygen partial pressure at one of the electrodes is known and the temperature of the sensor is controlled, then oxygen measurement of the potential difference between the two electrodes enables the unknown partial pressure to be calculated.
Note
The partial pressure of the gas is equal to the molar concentration of the component in a gas mixture times the total pressure of the gas mixture.
PO2 = CO2 P2
where:
PO2 = Oxygen partial pressure
CO2 = Molar concentration of oxygen
P2 = Total pressure
Example
For atmospheric air:
CO2 = 20.9%
P2 = 1 atmosphere
PO2 = (0.209/100) x 1
PO2 = 0.209 atmospheres
Principle of Operation
The zirconia cell used by Systech Illinois is made of zirconium oxide stabilised with yttrium oxide as the ceramic with porous platinum electrodes. This cell is shown in Figure 1.
Molecular oxygen is ionised at the porous platinum electrodes.
PtO → Pt + ½ O2
½ O2 + 2e- → O2–
The platinum electrodes on each side of the cell provide a catalytic surface for the change in oxygen molecules, O2, to oxygen ions, and oxygen ions to oxygen molecules. Oxygen molecules on the high concentration reference gas side of the cell gain electrons to become ions which enter the electrolyte. Simultaneously, at the other electrode, oxygen ions lose electrons and are released from the surface of the electrode as oxygen molecules.
The oxygen content of these gases, and therefore the oxygen partial pressures, is different. Therefore, the rate at which oxygen ions are produced and enter the zirconium oxide electrolyte at each electrode differs. As the zirconium oxide permits mobility of oxygen ions, the number of ions moving in each direction across the electrolyte will depend on the rate at which oxygen is ionised and enters the electrolyte at each electrode. The mechanism of this ion transfer is complex, but it is known to involve vacancies in the zirconia oxide lattice by doping with yttrium oxide.
The result of migration of oxygen ions across the electrolyte is a net flow of ions in one direction depending upon the partial pressures of oxygen at the two electrodes. For example in the Nernst equation:
If P1>P2 ion flow will be from P1 to P2 i.e. a positive E.M.F.
If P1<P2 ion flow will be from P2 to P1 i.e. a negative E.M.F.
If P1=P2 there will be no net ion flow i.e. a zero E.M.F.
The zirconia analyzer uses air as a reference, a constant oxygen concentration of 20.9%, and the zirconia cell is mounted inside a furnace whose temperature is controlled to 650°C (923 K).
The zirconia analyzer electronically calculates the oxygen partial pressure, and therefore oxygen concentration, of a sample gas with unknown oxygen concentration. This is accomplished by measuring the potential, E, produced across the zirconium cell electrodes, substituting for E in the Nernst equation and anti-logging to obtain PO2. The cell potential output is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Graph of cell potential vs. oxygen concentration of zirconia cell.
By anti-logging the equation, the output signal can be displayed directly on a digital readout meter as oxygen concentration in ppm or %.
Calibration
As the zirconia instrument uses an absolute measurement principle once built and factory calibrated, it does not require any further factory calibration.
Factory calibration consists of calibration of the electronics to accept the millivolt input signal from the detection cell and checking that the instrument then reads correctly on air, 20.9%. The instrument is then further checked for correct reading on ppm oxygen content in nitrogen.
Applications of zirconia oxygen analyzers
The zirconia analyzers may be used for measurement of oxygen at any level between 0-100% in gases or gas mixtures.
The only restriction on the instrument’s usage is that the gas to be measured must not contain combustible gases or any material that will poison the zirconium oxide detection cell.
Any combustible gas, e.g. CO, H2, hydrocarbons such as methane, in the sample gas entering the instrument will combine with any oxygen in the sample gas in the furnace due to the high temperature at which the furnace is kept. This will actually reduce the amount of oxygen in the sample gas and cause the instrument to give an incorrect low reading.
Materials that will poison the detection cell are:
- Halogens e.g. Chlorine
- Halogenated Hydrocarbons e.g. Methylchloride
- Sulphur containing compounds e.g. Hydrogen Sulphide
- Lead containing compounds e.g. Lead Sulphide
Gases or gas mixtures containing any of the above are not suitable for oxygen determination with a zirconia type oxygen analyzer.
The ZR800 analyzers are used by industrial gas producers, industrial gas users and food packaging companies:
| Application | Uses |
| Gas Producers | for ensuring product quality by measuring for an oxygen impurity or for monitoring for oxygen purity. |
| Gas Users | to ensure reliability of inert gas blankets to ensure quality of gases used as production materials in the chemical industry. |
| Food Packaging | to ensure the correct oxygen levels are present in packages containing modified or controlled atmospheres |