P.Girão, “Development and Characterization of a Conductivity Cell for Water Quality Monitoring

Abstract- The paper presents the development, characterization and testing of a small in-situ conductivity cell used for water quality monitoring of Tagus river estuary. In order to obtain reliable and meaningful measurements of the electrolytic conductance careful attention to several aspects involved in the design of cells and electrodes and in the measuring circuitry is required. The choice of the cell constant values suitable for the range of conductivities to be measured, the modelling of the current density distribution in the cell vicinity are issues described in detail. In the present paper, calibration and maintenance procedures are also referred. A discussion of the possibility to use the cell to identify different types of salts present in the electrolyte based on the frequency and conductivity dependence of its capacitance is undertaken. In the conclusions the advantages and disadvantages of the implemented electrode cell are reported