PH meter

Last updated
Beckman Model M pH Meter, 1937 Beckman Model M pH Meter 2006.072.002.tif
Beckman Model M pH Meter, 1937
Beckman model 72 pH meter, 1960 Beckman model 72 pH meter jw827b87k.tiff
Beckman model 72 pH meter, 1960
781 pH/Ion Meter pH meter by Metrohm PH Meter.jpg
781 pH/Ion Meter pH meter by Metrohm

A pH meter is a scientific instrument that measures the hydrogen-ion activity in water-based solutions, indicating its acidity or alkalinity expressed as pH. [2] The pH meter measures the difference in electrical potential between a pH electrode and a reference electrode, and so the pH meter is sometimes referred to as a "potentiometric pH meter". The difference in electrical potential relates to the acidity or pH of the solution. [3] Testing of pH via pH meters (pH-metry) is used in many applications ranging from laboratory experimentation to quality control. [4]

Contents

Applications

The rate and outcome of chemical reactions taking place in water often depends on the acidity of the water, and it is therefore useful to know the acidity of the water, typically measured by means of a pH meter. [5] Knowledge of pH is useful or critical in many situations, including chemical laboratory analyses. pH meters are used for soil measurements in agriculture, water quality for municipal water supplies, swimming pools, environmental remediation; brewing of wine or beer; manufacturing, healthcare and clinical applications such as blood chemistry; and many other applications. [4]

Advances in the instrumentation and in detection have expanded the number of applications in which pH measurements can be conducted. The devices have been miniaturized, enabling direct measurement of pH inside of living cells. [6] In addition to measuring the pH of liquids, specially designed electrodes are available to measure the pH of semi-solid substances, such as foods. These have tips suitable for piercing semi-solids, have electrode materials compatible with ingredients in food, and are resistant to clogging. [7]

Design and use

Using an early Beckman pH meter in a lab George Garcelon using Beckman pH meter 2004.012.020.tif
Using an early Beckman pH meter in a lab

Principle of operation

Potentiometric pH meters measure the voltage between two electrodes and display the result converted into the corresponding pH value. They comprise a simple electronic amplifier and a pair of electrodes, or alternatively a combination electrode, and some form of display calibrated in pH units. It usually has a glass electrode and a reference electrode, or a combination electrode. The electrodes, or probes, are inserted into the solution to be tested. [8] pH meters may also be based on the antimony electrode (typically used for rough conditions) or the quinhydrone electrode.

In order to accurately measure the potential difference between the two sides of the glass membrane reference electrode, typically a silver chloride electrode or calomel electrode are required on each side of the membrane. Their purpose is to measure changes in the potential on their respective side. One is built into the glass electrode. The other, which makes contact with the test solution through a porous plug, may be a separate reference electrode or may be built into a combination electrode. The resulting voltage will be the potential difference between the two sides of the glass membrane possibly offset by some difference between the two reference electrodes, that can be compensated for. The article on the glass electrode has a good description and figure.

The design of the electrodes is the key part: These are rod-like structures usually made of glass, with a bulb containing the sensor at the bottom. The glass electrode for measuring the pH has a glass bulb specifically designed to be selective to hydrogen-ion concentration. On immersion in the solution to be tested, hydrogen ions in the test solution exchange for other positively charged ions on the glass bulb, creating an electrochemical potential across the bulb. The electronic amplifier detects the difference in electrical potential between the two electrodes generated in the measurement and converts the potential difference to pH units. The magnitude of the electrochemical potential across the glass bulb is linearly related to the pH according to the Nernst equation.

The reference electrode is insensitive to the pH of the solution, being composed of a metallic conductor, which connects to the display. This conductor is immersed in an electrolyte solution, typically potassium chloride, which comes into contact with the test solution through a porous ceramic membrane. [9] The display consists of a voltmeter, which displays voltage in units of pH. [9]

On immersion of the glass electrode and the reference electrode in the test solution, an electrical circuit is completed, in which there is a potential difference created and detected by the voltmeter. The circuit can be thought of as going from the conductive element of the reference electrode to the surrounding potassium-chloride solution, through the ceramic membrane to the test solution, the hydrogen-ion-selective glass of the glass electrode, to the solution inside the glass electrode, to the silver of the glass electrode, and finally the voltmeter of the display device. [9] The voltage varies from test solution to test solution depending on the potential difference created by the difference in hydrogen-ion concentrations on each side of the glass membrane between the test solution and the solution inside the glass electrode. All other potential differences in the circuit do not vary with pH and are corrected for by means of the calibration. [9]

For simplicity, many pH meters use a combination probe, constructed with the glass electrode and the reference electrode contained within a single probe. A detailed description of combination electrodes is given in the article on glass electrodes. [10]

The pH meter is calibrated with solutions of known pH, typically before each use, to ensure accuracy of measurement. [11] To measure the pH of a solution, the electrodes are used as probes, which are dipped into the test solutions and held there sufficiently long for the hydrogen ions in the test solution to equilibrate with the ions on the surface of the bulb on the glass electrode. This equilibration provides a stable pH measurement. [12]

pH electrode and reference electrode design

Details of the fabrication and resulting microstructure of the glass membrane of the pH electrode are maintained as trade secrets by the manufacturers. [13] :125 However, certain aspects of design are published. Glass is a solid electrolyte, for which alkali-metal ions can carry current. The pH-sensitive glass membrane is generally spherical to simplify the manufacture of a uniform membrane. These membranes are up to 0.4 millimeters in thickness, thicker than original designs, so as to render the probes durable. The glass has silicate chemical functionality on its surface, which provides binding sites for alkali-metal ions and hydrogen ions from the solutions. This provides an ion-exchange capacity in the range of 10−6 to 10−8 mol/cm2. Selectivity for hydrogen ions (H+) arises from a balance of ionic charge, volume requirements versus other ions, and the coordination number of other ions. Electrode manufacturers have developed compositions that suitably balance these factors, most notably lithium glass. [13] :113–139

The silver chloride electrode is most commonly used as a reference electrode in pH meters, although some designs use the saturated calomel electrode. The silver chloride electrode is simple to manufacture and provides high reproducibility. The reference electrode usually consists of a platinum wire that has contact with a silver/silver chloride mixture, which is immersed in a potassium chloride solution. There is a ceramic plug, which serves as a contact to the test solution, providing low resistance while preventing mixing of the two solutions. [13] :76–91

With these electrode designs, the voltmeter is detecting potential differences of ±1400 millivolts. [14] The electrodes are further designed to rapidly equilibrate with test solutions to facilitate ease of use. The equilibration times are typically less than one second, although equilibration times increase as the electrodes age. [13] :164

Maintenance

Because of the sensitivity of the electrodes to contaminants, cleanliness of the probes is essential for accuracy and precision. Probes are generally kept moist when not in use with a medium appropriate for the particular probe, which is typically an aqueous solution available from probe manufacturers. [11] [15] Probe manufacturers provide instructions for cleaning and maintaining their probe designs. [11] For illustration, one maker of laboratory-grade pH gives cleaning instructions for specific contaminants: general cleaning (15-minute soak in a solution of bleach and detergent), salt (hydrochloric acid solution followed by sodium hydroxide and water), grease (detergent or methanol), clogged reference junction (KCl solution), protein deposits (pepsin and HCl, 1% solution), and air bubbles. [15] [16]

Calibration and operation

5.739 pH/Ion at 23 degC temperature shown on photo. pH 7110 pH meter manufactured by inoLab PH Meter 01.jpg
5.739 pH/Ion at 23 °C temperature shown on photo. pH 7110 pH meter manufactured by inoLab

The German Institute for Standardization publishes a standard for pH measurement using pH meters, DIN 19263. [17]

Very precise measurements necessitate that the pH meter is calibrated before each measurement. More typically calibration is performed once per day of operation. Calibration is needed because the glass electrode does not give reproducible electrostatic potentials over longer periods of time. [13] :238–239

Consistent with principles of good laboratory practice, calibration is performed with at least two standard buffer solutions that span the range of pH values to be measured. For general purposes, buffers at pH 4.00 and pH 10.00 are suitable. The pH meter has one calibration control to set the meter reading equal to the value of the first standard buffer and a second control to adjust the meter reading to the value of the second buffer. A third control allows the temperature to be set. Standard buffer sachets, available from a variety of suppliers, usually document the temperature dependence of the buffer control. More precise measurements sometimes require calibration at three different pH values. Some pH meters provide built-in temperature-coefficient correction, with temperature thermocouples in the electrode probes. The calibration process correlates the voltage produced by the probe (approximately 0.06 volts per pH unit) with the pH scale. Good laboratory practice dictates that, after each measurement, the probes are rinsed with distilled water or deionized water to remove any traces of the solution being measured, blotted with a scientific wipe to absorb any remaining water, which could dilute the sample and thus alter the reading, and then immersed in a storage solution suitable for the particular probe type. [18]

Types of pH meters

A simple pH meter 2009-03-30 Red pH meter reads 4.96.jpg
A simple pH meter
Soil pH meter Soil pH meter.jpg
Soil pH meter

In general there are three major categories of pH meters. Benchtop pH meters are often used in laboratories and are used to measure samples which are brought to the pH meter for analysis. Portable, or field pH meters, are handheld pH meters that are used to take the pH of a sample in a field or production site. [19] In-line or in situ pH meters, also called pH analyzers, are used to measure pH continuously in a process, and can stand-alone, or be connected to a higher level information system for process control. [20]

pH meters range from simple and inexpensive pen-like devices to complex and expensive laboratory instruments with computer interfaces and several inputs for indicator and temperature measurements to be entered to adjust for the variation in pH caused by temperature. The output can be digital or analog, and the devices can be battery-powered or rely on line power. Some versions use telemetry to connect the electrodes to the voltmeter display device. [13] :197–215

Specialty meters and probes are available for use in special applications, such as harsh environments [21] and biological microenvironments. [6] There are also holographic pH sensors, which allow pH measurement colorimetrically, making use of the variety of pH indicators that are available. [22] Additionally, there are commercially available pH meters based on solid state electrodes, rather than conventional glass electrodes. [23]

History

"Here's the new Beckman Pocket pH Meter", 1956 Here's the new Beckman Pocket pH Meter 2012.002 b49f13 001.tif
"Here's the new Beckman Pocket pH Meter", 1956

The concept of pH was defined in 1909 by S. P. L. Sørensen, and electrodes were used for pH measurement in the 1920s. [24]

In October 1934, Arnold Orville Beckman registered the first patent for a complete chemical instrument for the measurement of pH, U.S. Patent No. 2,058,761, for his "acidimeter", later renamed the pH meter. Beckman developed the prototype as an assistant professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, when asked to devise a quick and accurate method for measuring the acidity of lemon juice for the California Fruit Growers Exchange (Sunkist). [25] :131–135

On April 8, 1935, Beckman's renamed National Technical Laboratories focused on the manufacture of scientific instruments, with the Arthur H. Thomas Company as a distributor for its pH meter. [25] :131–135 In its first full year of sales, 1936, the company sold 444 pH meters for $60,000 in sales. [26] In years to come, the company sold millions of the units. [27] [28] In 2004 the Beckman pH meter was designated an ACS National Historic Chemical Landmark in recognition of its significance as the first commercially successful electronic pH meter. [26]

The Radiometer Corporation of Denmark was founded in 1935, and began marketing a pH meter for medical use around 1936, but "the development of automatic pH-meters for industrial purposes was neglected. Instead American instrument makers successfully developed industrial pH-meters with a wide variety of applications, such as in breweries, paper works, alum works, and water treatment systems." [24]

In the 1940s the electrodes for pH meters were often difficult to make, or unreliable due to brittle glass. Dr. Werner Ingold began to industrialize the production of single-rod measuring cells, a combination of measurement and reference electrode in one construction unit, [29] which led to broader acceptance in a wide range of industries including pharmaceutical production. [30]

Beckman marketed a portable "Pocket pH Meter" as early as 1956, but it did not have a digital read-out. [31] In the 1970s Jenco Electronics of Taiwan designed and manufactured the first portable digital pH meter. This meter was sold under the label of the Cole-Parmer Corporation. [32]

Building a pH meter

Specialized manufacturing is required for the electrodes, and details of their design and construction are typically trade secrets. [13] :125 However, with purchase of suitable electrodes, a standard multimeter can be used to complete the construction of the pH meter. [33] However, commercial suppliers offer voltmeter displays that simplify use, including calibration and temperature compensation. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrochemistry</span> Branch of chemistry

Electrochemistry is the branch of physical chemistry concerned with the relationship between electrical potential difference and identifiable chemical change. These reactions involve electrons moving via an electronically-conducting phase between electrodes separated by an ionically conducting and electronically insulating electrolyte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrochemical cell</span> Electro-chemical device

An electrochemical cell is a device that generates electrical energy from chemical reactions. Electrical energy can also be applied to these cells to cause chemical reactions to occur. Electrochemical cells that generate an electric current are called voltaic or galvanic cells and those that generate chemical reactions, via electrolysis for example, are called electrolytic cells.

pH Measure of the level of acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution

In chemistry, pH, also referred to as acidity or basicity, historically denotes "potential of hydrogen". It is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Acidic solutions are measured to have lower pH values than basic or alkaline solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrolysis</span> Technique in chemistry and manufacturing

In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique that uses direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is commercially important as a stage in the separation of elements from naturally occurring sources such as ores using an electrolytic cell. The voltage that is needed for electrolysis to occur is called the decomposition potential. The word "lysis" means to separate or break, so in terms, electrolysis would mean "breakdown via electricity".

An electrolyte is a medium containing ions that is electrically conducting through the movement of those ions, but not conducting electrons. This includes most soluble salts, acids, and bases dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. Upon dissolving, the substance separates into cations and anions, which disperse uniformly throughout the solvent. Solid-state electrolytes also exist. In medicine and sometimes in chemistry, the term electrolyte refers to the substance that is dissolved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrophysiology</span> Study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues.

Electrophysiology is the branch of physiology that studies the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of voltage changes or electric current or manipulations on a wide variety of scales from single ion channel proteins to whole organs like the heart. In neuroscience, it includes measurements of the electrical activity of neurons, and, in particular, action potential activity. Recordings of large-scale electric signals from the nervous system, such as electroencephalography, may also be referred to as electrophysiological recordings. They are useful for electrodiagnosis and monitoring.

An ion-selective electrode (ISE), also known as a specific ion electrode (SIE), is a transducer that converts the change in the concentration of a specific ion dissolved in a solution into an electrical potential. The voltage is theoretically dependent on the logarithm of the ionic activity, according to the Nernst equation. Ion-selective electrodes are used in analytical chemistry and biochemical/biophysical research, where measurements of ionic concentration in an aqueous solution are required.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reference electrode</span> Electrode with a stable and accurate electrode potential

A reference electrode is an electrode that has a stable and well-known electrode potential. The overall chemical reaction taking place in a cell is made up of two independent half-reactions, which describe chemical changes at the two electrodes. To focus on the reaction at the working electrode, the reference electrode is standardized with constant concentrations of each participant of the redox reaction.

A glass electrode is a type of ion-selective electrode made of a doped glass membrane that is sensitive to a specific ion. The most common application of ion-selective glass electrodes is for the measurement of pH. The pH electrode is an example of a glass electrode that is sensitive to hydrogen ions. Glass electrodes play an important part in the instrumentation for chemical analysis and physicochemical studies. The voltage of the glass electrode, relative to some reference value, is sensitive to changes in the activity of a certain type of ions.

A silver chloride electrode is a type of reference electrode, commonly used in electrochemical measurements. For environmental reasons it has widely replaced the saturated calomel electrode. For example, it is usually the internal reference electrode in pH meters and it is often used as reference in reduction potential measurements. As an example of the latter, the silver chloride electrode is the most commonly used reference electrode for testing cathodic protection corrosion control systems in sea water environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISFET</span> Type of field-effect transistor

An ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) is a field-effect transistor used for measuring ion concentrations in solution; when the ion concentration (such as H+, see pH scale) changes, the current through the transistor will change accordingly. Here, the solution is used as the gate electrode. A voltage between substrate and oxide surfaces arises due to an ion sheath. It is a special type of MOSFET (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor), and shares the same basic structure, but with the metal gate replaced by an ion-sensitive membrane, electrolyte solution and reference electrode. Invented in 1970, the ISFET was the first biosensor FET (BioFET).

Redox potential is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons from or lose electrons to an electrode and thereby be reduced or oxidised respectively. Redox potential is expressed in volts (V). Each species has its own intrinsic redox potential; for example, the more positive the reduction potential, the greater the species' affinity for electrons and tendency to be reduced.

The total acid number (TAN) is a measurement of acidity that is determined by the amount of potassium hydroxide in milligrams that is needed to neutralize the acids in one gram of oil. It is an important quality measurement of crude oil.

In analytical chemistry, potentiometric titration is a technique similar to direct titration of a redox reaction. It is a useful means of characterizing an acid. No indicator is used; instead the electric potential is measured across the analyte, typically an electrolyte solution. To do this, two electrodes are used, an indicator electrode and a reference electrode. Reference electrodes generally used are hydrogen electrodes, calomel electrodes, and silver chloride electrodes. The indicator electrode forms an electrochemical half-cell with the interested ions in the test solution. The reference electrode forms the other half-cell.

Electroanalytical methods are a class of techniques in analytical chemistry which study an analyte by measuring the potential (volts) and/or current (amperes) in an electrochemical cell containing the analyte. These methods can be broken down into several categories depending on which aspects of the cell are controlled and which are measured. The four main categories are potentiometry, amperometry, coulometry, and voltammetry.

Spontaneous potentials are often measured down boreholes for formation evaluation in the oil and gas industry, and they can also be measured along the Earth's surface for mineral exploration or groundwater investigation. The phenomenon and its application to geology was first recognized by Conrad Schlumberger, Marcel Schlumberger, and E.G. Leonardon in 1931, and the first published examples were from Romanian oil fields.

The Glossary of fuel cell terms lists the definitions of many terms used within the fuel cell industry. The terms in this fuel cell glossary may be used by fuel cell industry associations, in education material and fuel cell codes and standards to name but a few.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conductivity (electrolytic)</span> Measure of the ability of a solution containing electrolytes to conduct electricity

Conductivity of an electrolyte solution is a measure of its ability to conduct electricity. The SI unit of conductivity is siemens per meter (S/m).

Concrete electrical resistivity can be obtained by applying a current into the concrete and measuring the response voltage. There are different methods for measuring concrete resistivity.

A mixed oxidant solution is a type of disinfectant that is used for disinfecting, sterilizing, and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms in water and in many other applications. Compared to other methods, a mixed oxidant solution may have advantages such as higher disinfecting power, stable residual chlorine in water, improved taste and smell, elimination of biofilm, and safety. The main components of a mixed oxidant solution are chlorine and its derivatives, which are produced by electrolysis of sodium chloride. It may also contain high amounts of chlorine dioxide, dissolved ozone, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen from which the name "mixed oxidant" is derived.

References

  1. "Beckman Coulter Product Milestones" (PDF). Beckman Coulter. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. "pH meter". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  3. Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2 ed.), ed. Richard Cammack, Teresa Atwood, Peter Campbell, Howard Parish, Anthony Smith, Frank Vella, and John Stirling, Oxford University Press 2006, ISBN   9780198529170
  4. 1 2 "pH Measurement and Value". Global Water. Xylem, Inc. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  5. Bell, Ronald Percy. "Acid-Base Reaction". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 Loiselle, F.B.; Casey, J.R. (2010). "Measurement of Intracellular pH". Membrane Transporters in Drug Discovery and Development. Methods in Molecular Biology. Vol. 637. pp. 311–31. doi:10.1007/978-1-60761-700-6_17. ISBN   978-1-60761-699-3. PMID   20419443.
  7. 1 2 "pH Measurement Handbook" (PDF). PragoLab. Thermo Scientific, Inc. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  8. Riddle, Peter (2013). "pH meters and their electrodes: calibration, maintenance and use". The Biomedical Scientist. April: 202–205.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Anthoni, J. Floor. "pH Meter Principles". seafriends.org. Seafriends Marine Conservation and Education Centre. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  10. Vanýsek, Petr (2004). "The Glass pH Electrode" (PDF). Interface. No. Summer. The Electrochemical Society. pp. 19–20. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 Bitesize Bio: How to Care for Your pH Meter, Steffi Magub, 18 May 2012.
  12. "Theory and Practice of pH Measurement" (PDF). Emerson Process Management. December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Galster, Helmuth (1991). pH Measurement: Fundamentals, Methods, Applications, Instrumentation. Weinheim: VCH Publishers, Inc. ISBN   978-3-527-28237-1.
  14. Ltd, W G Pye and Co (1962). "Potentiometric pH Meter". Journal of Scientific Instruments. 39 (6): 323. doi:10.1088/0950-7671/39/6/442.
  15. 1 2 MRC lab: How to Store, Clean, and Recondition pH Electrodes Archived 2015-09-22 at the Wayback Machine .
  16. Cleaning electrodes.
  17. "pH Measurement - pH Measuring Chains". Beuth publishing DIN. Beuth Verlag GmbH. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  18. "How to perform a pH meter calibration". all-about-pH.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  19. "What is a pH Meter and How Does it Work?". Mettler-Toledo LLC. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  20. "A guide to pH Measurement Theory and Practice". Mettler-Toledo LLC. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  21. Olson, Vickie (2015-04-15). "How to Select a pH Sensor for Harsh Process Environments". automation.isa.org. International Society for Automation. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  22. AK Yetisen; H Butt; F da Cruz Vasconcellos; Y Montelongo; CAB Davidson; J Blyth; JB Carmody; S Vignolini; U Steiner; JJ Baumberg; TD Wilkinson; CR Lowe (2013). "Light-Directed Writing of Chemically Tunable Narrow-Band Holographic Sensors". Advanced Optical Materials. 2 (3): 250. doi:10.1002/adom.201300375. S2CID   96257175.
  23. "pH Electrode". pH-meter.info. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  24. 1 2 Travis, Anthony S.; Schröter, H.G.; Homburg, E.; Morris, P.J.T. (1998). Determinants in the evolution of the European chemical industry : 1900-1939 : new technologies, political frameworks, markets and companies. Dordrecht: Kluwer Acad. Publ. p. 332. ISBN   978-0-7923-4890-0 . Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  25. 1 2 Arnold Thackray & Minor Myers, Jr. (2000). Arnold O. Beckman : one hundred years of excellence. foreword by James D. Watson. Philadelphia, Pa.: Chemical Heritage Foundation. ISBN   978-0-941901-23-9.
  26. 1 2 "Development of the Beckman pH Meter". National Historic Chemical Landmarks. American Chemical Society. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  27. Luther, Claudia (May 19, 2004). "Arnold O. Beckman, 104". Chicago Tribune News. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  28. Jaehnig, Kenton G. Finding Aid to the Beckman Historical Collection 1911 - 2011 (Bulk 1935 - 2004 ) . Retrieved 30 October 2015. Click on 'Beckman Historical Collection Finding Aid' to go to full document.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  29. 15.3.1957: English Patent – Measuring assemblies for the determination of ion concentrations and redox potentials, particularly suitable for carrying out measurements at elevated temperatures. Patent No. 850177
  30. Dr. A. Fiechter, Dr. W. Ingold und A. Baerfuss, Chemie-Ingenieur-Technik 10 (1964) 1000-1004: "Die pH-Kontrolle in der mikrobiologischen Verfahrenstechnik"
  31. "Here's the new Beckman Pocket pH Meter". Science History Institute. 1956. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  32. Buie, John. "Evolution of the pH Meter". Lab Manager. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  33. "Building the Simplest Possible pH Meter". 66pacific.com. Retrieved 29 March 2017.