ROSS pH Electrodes

For more than 40 years, ROSS pH electrodes have been helping to provide accuracy, stability and rapid response. Compared to conventional electrodes, the proven ROSS reference system exhibits stability in measurements, faster response, greater accuracy and precision when measuring samples that vary in temperature, or when calibrating in temperatures that differ from your samples.

ROSS pH electrodes are available in a variety of styles such as the clog free Sure-Flow junction, glass or epoxy electrodes, flat surface, semi-micro, micro, and spear tip designs. 

The distinctive orange coil, which is highly visible in the glass body version of the ROSS electrode, not only gives ROSS electrodes their distinctive look, but is a feature designed to increase electrode lifetime. 

The triodide/iodide system inside the coil provides a chemically stable house for the redox system and protects the electrode from contamination. The first ROSS electrodes were housed in a straight stem, but the product creators were not satisfied with the limitations of this design.

In addition to increasing the life of the electrode, designing a coil into the reference system provides the electrode with two technical advantages over a straight stem design. By significantly increasing the diffusion path to the reference wire, the coil minimizes changes near the reference wire caused by diffusion of fill solution through the reference junction to the inner electrolyte. The effective diffusion path is further increased by incorporating particles or polymers into the inner fill solution.

Find out more about ROSS technology by reading the whitepaper.

Download whitepaper

Since 1981, Thermo Scientific Orion ROSS Electrodes have been helping scientists achieve precise results in pH testing and measurements. The original ROSS pH electrode was the first of its kind to use a redox reference system. The redox system provides a stable reading within seconds and increased accuracy by at least 10 times compared to conventional electrodes.

The ROSS system has powered innovations and driven efficiency in ISE and pH testing by scientists and technicians across pharmaceutical, environmental, quality control, and academic labs for 40 years. We think that's something to celebrate and we hope you join us. 

The first “Ross” electrode was created in 1980 and introduced into the market in 1981 by Orion Research led then by it’s founders Dr. James Ross and John Riseman. The innovative pH electrode designed by Dr. Ross was based off of redox technology instead of relying on silver chloride, which can precipitate salts into the liquid junction. This system is 10 times more accurate compared to traditional methods and the drift rate is less than 0.002 pH per day. In 1984, Engineer and Glassblower Moshe Hirshberg would design the signature coil for which the ROSS electrode is known, to extend the lifetime of the product up to 2 years, and further cementing the legacy of Dr. Ross.