Author(s): Entz, B.
Title: The dissolved oxygen determination method is 120 years old in memoriam Lajos Winkler (1863–1939) and Rezső Maucha (1882–1964)
Year: 2008
Volume: 54
Pages: 7-11.
Abstract: The measurement of dissolved oxygen is a convenient method of measuring production and decomposition in bodies of water. The Winkler Titration method was devised and modified by the Hungarian scientist Lajos Winkler (1863–1939). The young 25 year old chemist recognized the importance of dissolved oxygen in aquatic life and developed a simple oxidation-reduction reaction routinely performed by aquatic biologists. The relatively new oxygen-sensitive electrodes facilitate continuous measurement and broadened our knowledge in all aquatic ecosystems. The main problem with most oxygen probes is that the delicate membrane over the electrode must be replaced frequently. Today the oxygen-sensitive electrode is regularly calibrated with the fundamental Winkler method. Winkler’s student, Rezső Maucha became his partner and together they developed a semi-micro field method to measure O2 in the late 1920’s. Maucha a founding member of the International Society of Limnology (SIL) became a leading limnologist. His star diagram is used to visually compare the ionic composition of bodies of water both qualitatively and quantitatively. Ahead of his time (before phosphorus was measured in water) he classified the productivity of Hungarian lakes based on the oxygen produced by algae. He broadened the three connecting biological activities – production, consumption and decomposition with the concept of supply and accumulation.
Keywords: Lajos Winkler, Rezső Maucha, dissolved oxygen
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Mahunka, S., Papp, L., Báldi, A., Csuzdi, Cs., Forró, L., Andrikovics, S. & Kerekes, J.
