Methods and sensing instruments are provided which perform automated electrochemical sensing and determination of metals in a liquid sample, such as drinking water or waste water. With use of microelectrode arrays, concentrations of metal are determined through a double potential step variation on anodic stripping coulometry, and the ability to generate these results provides for compact sensor networks that can be remotely deployed for determination of metals in samples, for real-time, decentralized sample monitoring.

An embodiment provides a method for determining the alkalinity of an aqueous sample using an alkalinity sensor, including: monitoring the pH of an aqueous sample using a pH sensor in a sample cell, the pH sensor including a pH sensor electrode made of boron-doped diamond; generating hydronium ions, using a hydronium generator, in the aqueous sample in the sample cell, the hydronium generator including a hydronium-generating electrode; changing the pH of the aqueous sample by causing the hydronium generator to generate an amount of hydronium ions in the aqueous sample; quantifying and converting a current or charge to the number of hydronium ions produced to an end point of the electrochemical titration, the end point correlating to the alkalinity of a sample; and analyzing the alkalinity of the aqueous sample based on the generated amount of hydronium ions and the resulting change in pH monitored by the pH sensor.

A transparency, e.g. an aircraft laminated windshield, includes one or more moisture sensors to monitor moisture penetration to monitor performance of the moisture barrier. At least one of the moisture sensors includes an electrolyte between and in ionic contact with two electrically conductive electrodes. Measuring the potential between the first and second electrode and/or the current through the electrodes to determine the amount of moisture within the laminated windshield in the area of the moisture sensor. With the information provided by the moisture sensors performance of the windshield is available to schedule timely repair or replacement of the windshield that is performing outside of acceptable limits.

A method for determination of an unknown analyte using quantitative electrochemical generation of a detectable species, which provides specified quantities of the species, is described. As an example, free chlorine concentration measurements may be performed using N,N-Diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD), or N,N-bis(2,4-di-sulfobenzyl)toluidinetetrasodium salt (SBT), for obtaining an in-situ calibration curve, whereby matrix effects are eliminated.

An electrochemical metal alloy identification device employing electrolytes to measure and identify different potentials of alloys is presented. This includes physical structure, disposables, electrical systems, control circuitry, and algorithms to identify alloys.

Systems that can measure small changes in ion concentrations and method of manufacturing and using those systems. The system includes a substrate, a plurality of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, each multi-walled carbon nanotube from the plurality of multi-walled carbon nanotubes having two ends and a surface extending between the two ends, one of the two ends being disposed on and operatively attached to the substrate, the other of the two ends not being disposed on the substrate, a number of organic molecules; each organic molecule bound to one multi-walled carbon nanotube, each organic molecule also having an end group with affinity for a predetermined ion(s), and a substantially nonconducting polymer deposited on a portion of each multiwalled carbon nanotube, the portion substantially not including locations on each multiwalled carbon nanotube at which each organic molecule is chelated.

An embodiment provides a method for stirring a sample in a cell, including: providing a cell comprising a sample chamber; placing a boron-doped diamond electrode on an inner surface of the sample chamber, placing a removable stir bar in the sample chamber, the removable stir bar directly contacting and touching the boron-doped diamond electrode; and wherein the stir bar can be operated to rotate within the sample chamber upon the boron-doped diamond electrode. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A transparency, e.g. an aircraft laminated windshield, includes one or more moisture sensors to monitor moisture penetration to monitor performance of the moisture barrier. At least one of the moisture sensors includes an electrolyte between and in ionic contact with two electrically conductive electrodes. Measuring the potential between the first and second electrode and/or the current through the electrodes to determine the amount of moisture within the laminated windshield in the area of the moisture sensor. With the information provided by the moisture sensors performance of the windshield is available to schedule timely repair or replacement of the windshield that is performing outside of acceptable limits.

An embodiment provides a method for stirring a sample in a cell, including: providing a cell comprising a sample chamber; placing an electrode on an inner surface of the sample chamber, placing a removable stir bar in the sample chamber, the removable stir bar directly contacting and touching the electrode; and wherein the stir bar can be operated to rotate within the sample chamber upon the electrode. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Systems and method for use in measuring lead levels in biological samples is provided. Using square wave coulometry and colloidal metallic particles impregnated on printed carbon electrodes on a sensor, the system provides a rapid, reliable, portable and inexpensive means of detecting low lead levels.