10 Things to Know about Oxidation

Reduction Potential (ORP)

June 4, 2015OTT Hydromet Leave a comment

1. ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) is a popular water quality parameter that is

normally measured as the voltage between a platinum measuring electrode and a
reference electrode.
2. Though ORP is classically based on a standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) as a reference,
practical limitations to this approach cause most commercial ORP sensors to use an
Ag/AgCl reference.
3. ORP measurement results are relative to the reference electrode used in the sensor.
Through known relationships, results can be converted to other reference systems like the
SHE.  The Hydrolab HL Series uses a KCl-saturated Ag/AgCl reference but reports
results relative to it and the SHE.
4. The measurement result from an ORP sensor represents the net status of all the oxidation
and reduction reactions in the sample being measured. Positive results indicate an
oxidizing environment and negative results indicate a reducing environment, when
referencing the SHE.  Together with pH, temperature, and knowledge of the dominant
species in a sample, ORP results help predict the oxidation state of ions in solution and
whether certain reactions may take place.
 The Hydrolab ORP sensor available on Hydrolab sondes

5. Zobell’s solution is the most popular reference standard for ORP. Zobell’s is the easiest
to find commercially and is more stable over time than Light’s solution or Quinhydrone. 
The Hydrolab HL Series incorporates the Zobell’s solution response to temperature into
the calibration so that the user does not need to adjust the calibration value for
temperature.
6. The oxidation reduction potential of a solution is partially a function of temperature,
which is reflected in the Nernst equation. Because all the constituents of natural waters
are almost never known or quantified accurately, the relationship between ORP and
temperature cannot be determined on a practical basis.  However, noting the water
temperature with the ORP result is recommended and encouraged to facilitate
comparisons between measurement results.
7. ORP electrodes are prone to fouling. Any substance on the electrode – whether organic or
inorganic, visible or invisible, living or not – can lead to misrepresentative readings.  The
measurement results will reflect the ORP of the fouling substance rather than the bulk
solution.  For this reason it is important to keep the sensor clean and its surface smooth.
The smooth surface minimizes surface area for contamination to occur.
8. Results from two ORP sensors measuring the same solution will often be different.
Differences often originate from varying amounts and types of contamination on the
electrode and possibly variations in the potential of the reference electrode.  This effect is
 magnified in waters that have fewer species that participate in oxidation-reduction
reactions.
9. ORP reference standards normally are very active from an oxidation or reduction
potential standpoint and will dominate the measurement result. Therefore, two sensors
measuring a reference standard may agree while they do not agree when measuring
natural waters.
10. For more information or help with ORP measurements with Ott Hydromet equipment,
visit ott.com or contact the technical support team at techsupport@otthydromet.com.