Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensors Versus Commercial Electrodes
| Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor Systems | Commercial Electrodes |
| measures both oxygen gas and dissolved oxygen in gases and liquids. | most electrodes are designed for use in gas or liquids, but not both media. |
| immune to environmental changes in pH, salinity and ionic strength. | polarographic electrodes can be affected by changes in pH, salinity and ionic strength of the environment. |
| immune to interference from moisture, carbon dioxide, methane and other substances. | electrochemical electrodes are subject to interference from a number of substances and sampling conditions. |
| fast response time -- <1 second for dissolved oxygen and oxygen gas. | electrodes can have a response time of 1-1.5 minutes, depending on temperature. |
| long life -- more than 1 year. | electrodes have a typical lifetime of just 3 months. |
| does not consume oxygen, allowing for continuous contact with the sample. | electrodes can consume oxygen of ~0.1 micrograms/hour. |
| Frequent calibration is unnecessary. | calibration may be necessary on an hourly basis. |
| probe temperature range is -80° C to +80° C (up to 110° C for brief periods only) | temperature range for some electrodes is 0-45° C. |