AER-200S Soil/Compost Respirometer
Overview
The Challenge AER-200S Soil/Compost Respirometer is ideally suited to determine rates of oxygen uptake or anoxic gas production rates in soil or compost samples - as may occur in upper layers of soil under natural conditions or in mixed compost reactors. The AER-200S Soil/Compost Respirometer can provide useful information for determining steps in soil bio-remediation.  Many companies are developing products that assist or increase the degradation rate of toxic chemicals.  This unit can provide quick and easy quantitative data to support such claims.  This unit can also help municipal and industrial sites that need to understand the gas production rates of the dried solids.   This objective is accomplished with a perforated sample column in a sealed reactor column.

Soil Column Specifications
  • Soil, Compost, and Bio-Solid testing equipment must overcome two important principals:  Stagnant air gradients and temperature control.  Challenge created a convenient two chamber system to do just that.  
    • Reactor Column:  The reactor chamber allows for a headspace around the entire sample and allows for maximum surface area resulting in maximum oxygen uptake rates.
    • Sample Column:  The sample column serves three major functions.  The base of the sample column is a unique magnetic coupled fan that works in conjunction with the MS-300 Magnetic Stirrer. This feature allows the air to be circulated in and around the sample without injecting or removing air from the reactor eliminating stagnant atmosphere gradients.The sample column is a perforated cylinder that allows for maximum surface-to-reactor contact.  The sample column cap functions as the KOH well for carbon dioxide absorption for measurements or anaerobic measurements when methane values are required.    Click here for the AR-295 Diagram.
  • The AER-200S uses easy and reliable luer fittings for all connections.  The need for messy greases and special configurations are eliminated.  This system can measure aerobic and anaerobic reactions very easily by changing the position of two connections at the measuring cell.
  • The reactor column has two ports purging the head space.
  • Stirring speeds are unified across all samples with a single control dial. 
  • Temperature control is critical for any respirometric study, so Challenge Technology recommends the use of either a temperature controlled environmental chamber or a heater/cooler and water bath such as the H/C-230 and W/C-200.  The W/C-200 sits on the stirrer base without compromising magnetic stirring efficiency.   The H/C-230 is then used to circulate the water throughout the entire bath to maintain consistent and stable temperatures.  Challenge recommends a circulating heating/cooling unit for uniform temperature as opposed to immersion heaters that can produce pockets of differing temperatures. 
  • The AER-200S is available in a 4-Reactor set and 8-Reactor Set.  For individuals already owning the AER-200 Respirometer, the Soil/Compost Column can be ordered individually (AR-295). 
  • For more information about the measuring system and capabilities see the AER-200 Aerobic/Anaerobic Respirometer.
Unit Specifications
  • Minimum Flow Rate Detection: 0.06 mg (aerobic); 0.15 ml (anaerobic)
  • Maximum Flow Capacity: 600 mg/hr (aerobic); 1,500 ml/hr (aerobic)                   Higher flow rates available-        0.15 mL/count and 6mL/count           
  • Calibration Precision: <1% Cv (aerobic)
  • Measurement Precision: <3% Cv (aerobic); <3% Cv (anaerobic)
  • Data Save Interval: 1 to 720 min.
  • Electrical Requirements: 110 to 240 VAC, 50-60 hz

AER-200S System Includes:

  • Flow measuring module (4 to 24-cell sizes available)
  • Interface module
  • WindowsTM-based graphics software
  • Test Supply Kit;with oxygen regulator 
  • Magnetic stirring base (click here for details)
  • Water bath and cover (optional)
  • Temperature control module (optional)