Virtual instrumentation for pH measurements in biological systems

In the present communication a personal computer control methodology for pH data acquisition and analysis in biological systems is reported. The instrumental control, acquisition, storage, processing and presentation of the experimental data are provided by a data acquisition board, a graphical programming software and numerical analysis,'graphics software. The major objective of this work is to improve the performance and flexibility of the personal computer acquisition system compared with traditional approaches depending on potentiometric recorders. In particular. virtual instruments for interfacing pH meters of different brands to a personal computer and for measuring proton changes in lightly buffered solutions during enzymatic reactions are provided. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.