A new algorithm based on the bubbling method for rapid measurement of carbon dioxide concentration in water
摘要
Accurate measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) in water is essential for environmental monitoring, water quality assessment, and carbon flux estimation. Traditional methods, such as titration and conductivity-based methods, are often limited by high costs, operational complexity, or reliance on chemical reagents. This study proposes a new algorithm based on bubbling for determining free CO2 concentrations (CO2 (aq)) in water. By introducing air into water and fitting gas-phase CO2 dynamics with a nonlinear physical model, the initial CO2 (aq) concentration can be directly obtained. Experiments with tap water at different temperatures yielded CO2 (aq) concentrations of 121.38 ± 0.74 μmol/L, 184.50 ± 0.92 μmol/L, and 211.11 ± 0.78 μmol/L. Experiments with saltwater yielded CO2 (aq) concentrations of 128.46 ± 1.83 μmol/L, 165.15 ± 2.20 μmol/L, and 193.20 ± 1.46 μmol/L. Validation against an independent integration method yielded a minimum relative error of 0.67%, confirming the model’s accuracy and stability. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between temperature and the equilibrium gas–liquid CO2 concentration ratio, suggesting that temperature effects require correction in practical applications. In conclusion, this method offers a simple and reliable approach for CO2 measurement in water, with promising applications in environmental science and engineering.