A digital integrator for controlled-potential coulometry

Accurate electrolysis current integration is required in controlled-potential coulometry. Analog integrators have been shown to deviate from ideal response by as much as —0.1%. A digital integrator was designed to optimize the linearity of the voltage-to-frequency converter used, minimize the effects of temperature, eliminate integration errors caused by small polarity changes and signal noise, and allow interchangeability with an analog integrator in a state-of-the-art coulometer widely used throughout the nuclear field for controlled-potential coulometry. Evaluation of the digital integrator, calibrated versus the Faraday, showed bias-free determinations of plutonium with a relative standard deviation of approximately 0.02%. The integrator was designed specifically for use in the controlled-potential coulometric determination of plutonium, but many of the features incorporated can be adopted to digital integrators for other uses where accurate integration over long periods of time is required.