At low stirrer speeds (20-30 rpm), the limiting current is directly proportional to the cube root of the flow rate, to the analytical concentration C, and only slightly dependent on stirrer speed: z'l 02 Tzt1/3C (low speed) Intermediate stirrer speeds probably represent a transition between laminar and turbulent flow.The current also depends to some extent on the relative geometry of the cell, but is constant as long as the electrode position is fixed. A stirrer pitch of about V2 turn per centimeter gives more efficient mass transport than a pitch of about 3 turns per centimeter.The turbulent tubular electrode may have some important advantages. It is relatively simple to construct and is highly sensitive, with a limit of detection below 0.1 µ . It also has a limiting current which is independent of flow rate at high stirrer speeds. The latter would be an important advantage for making measurements in flowing systems with poorly controlled flow rates. The high mass transport rates attainable with this electrode might prove advantageous for hydrodynamic voltammetric studies of electrochemical kinetics.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe assistance of R. Schmelzer in the machining of the cell is highly appreciated.