Closed respirometry

Closed respirometry systems are air-tight containers where the study specimen is located. As time passes, the oxygen in the chamber is consumed and carbon dioxide levels increase. This is the main difference with open respirometry chambers.

The simplest closed respirometer consists of a sealed container containing the living specimen together with a substance to absorb the carbon dioxide produced during respiration, usually cotton wads soaked with potassium hydroxide. In this way, pressure drops in the chamber can be attributed to the drop of partial oxygen pressure in the container.