On the reduction of oxygen in aqueous solution by electrolytically precipitated cadmium.

The reduction of oxygen in aqueous solution by electrolytically precipitated cadmium, used in a reductor column, has been studied in two ways. First, by analysis of the effluent for the hydrogen peroxide formed as a reaction intermediate, the conditions for quantitative reduction have been found. Attention is called to the fact that an effluent free from hydrogen peroxide also implies quantitative reduction of all dissolved oxygen. The practical consequences are pointed out. A comparison is also made with some other reductors. Secondly, the oxidation of electrolytically precipitated cadmium by hydrogen ion is strongly inhibited, so at pH 7 it is possible to determine oxygen as the equivalent amount of cadmium ion produced in the reductor column. The conditions of quantitative reduction of oxygen are determined and found to be in agreement with those obtained by the first method. From the results the solubility of oxygen in water in equilibrium with air is estimated and found to agree with a published result considered as reliable. An outline is given of a method for determination of oxygen in aqueous solution by measurement of the amount of cadmium ions produced.