Question

Can manometers be used to record any metabolic gas exchange? For example, can they be used to measure CO2 production in yeast during fermentation (the equation for

fermentation in yeast is C6H12O6 è 6CO2 + 2C2H5OH)? If so, do any steps need to be taken to ensure that pressure changes are attributable to CO2?

Answer 1

Generally a manometer measures pressures very close to atmospheric. They are used in automotive repair for detecting problems in fuel vapour containment systems(EVAP)

Manily Manometers can be used to record metabolic gas exchanges of any kind. Measurements of the gas exchange can be recorded using a respirometer as well.

So that Measurements of gas exchange, particularly the rate of uptake of oxygen, give a clear indication of the activity of respiratory metabolism. The equipment used is called a respirometer and Oxygen flux measurements are critical at low rates of. respiration and at oxygen tensions below air saturation. Difficulties are primarily due to increased oxygen diffusion and consumption processes which may occur in conventional closed respirometric chambers. To avoid measurement errors encountered with standard equipment, a new type of oxygraph was developed.