Oxygen Sensors & Transmitters

Oxygen Sensors & Transmitters

Dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors and transmitters measure oxygen concentration in liquids for applications spanning trace oxygen control to high-concentration monitoring. Measurement points are deployed in water and wastewater, life sciences, power, chemicals, food & beverage, and other industries where oxygen directly influences quality, yield, safety, or biological activity.

DO measurement is essential for quality assurance and process control in operations such as aeration control, fermentation, and inertization. Continuous oxygen data supports stable control loops, reduces wasteful aeration energy, protects biological treatment performance, and confirms oxygen-limited or oxygen-excess conditions that can impact product quality or corrosion risk.

Two dominant measuring principles are used: amperometric and optical. Amperometric oxygen sensors provide accurate, linear measurement from oxygen traces up to high oxygen concentrations but require regular maintenance. Optical oxygen sensors provide fast availability of stable measured values with very low maintenance, making them attractive where access is limited or where maintenance intervals must be minimized.

Applications include activated sludge aeration basins, nitrification/denitrification control strategies, aquaculture and fish farming, fermentation bioreactors, and utility and process water systems where oxygen ingress or removal must be monitored. Oxygen measurement can also support inert gas blanketing and product protection in sensitive chemical or food processes.

Engineering considerations include temperature and pressure compensation, flow conditions at the sensor, fouling control, and the choice of installation hardware (immersion, retractable, or flow assemblies). Standardized transmitter platforms support diagnostics and multiparameter integration, enabling oxygen to be correlated with pH/ORP, conductivity, turbidity, and nutrient signals for more resilient process control.

George E. Booth Co., an exclusive authorized representative of sales and service for Endress+Hauser.