The Production of Anaerobic Conditions with Chromous Salts

Summary: The absorption of molecular oxygen by chromous salts provides one of the most efficient methods of producing anaerobic conditions. In previous applications to anaerobic culture, hydrogen and chromous ions were produced by the action of sulphuric acid on chromium; chromium metal powder suitable for use in this method is however difficult to obtain. An alternative method of generating hydrogen and chromous sulphate from a mixture of chromic sulphate, zinc and sulphuric acid is described. A new indicator of anaerobic conditions which can be used repeatedly is also described.