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Transient studies of electrochemical systems at microelectrodes allow analysis under rapid mass transport conditions. The small active area allows rapid resolution of charging currents, giving access to meaningful information even at short times. Sampled current voltammetry at microelectrodes (MSCV) is a multistep technique whereby data is collected from a series of potential step experiments along the redox wave of interest. Varying the sampling time allows comparison of how a reaction proceeds at varying timescales, whilst simultaneously showing the potential dependence. Selection of an appropriate sampling time tunes the rate of mass transport to give quasireversible conditions, allowing facile kinetic analysis using quasireversible models. Application to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) revealed unreasonably large currents at short times. This work suggests that pre-adsorbed oxygen at the electrode surface is responsible. The presence of the pre-adsorbed oxygen was confirmed by its direct reduction in argon purged solution, and its strong dependence on the metal substrate. The resultant peak potentials were used to calculate the binding energies of varying metals towards oxygen (ΔG₀), which are in excellent agreement with the literature. This is useful, as ΔG₀ is a popular descriptor for oxygen reduction activity. Once the pre-adsorbed oxygen is consumed, MSCVs for the ORR can be used for standard kinetic analysis using Tafel or Koutecky-Levich analyses, with the advantage of the electrode being oxide free before each data point is recorded.

High-quality forage is essential in feeding dairy cattle if dairymen intend to increase milk production or to maintain a high level of production. Problems of preserving high-quality forage for the winter feeding of livestock occur each year. The preservation of legumes and grasses as hay is governed by a number of factors: (1) curing weather, (2) state of maturity of the crops, and (3) other factors such as equipment available and methods of handling the crop. The inability of dairymen to control these factors results in heavy nutrient loses in the hays during the curing process due primarily to leaching and shattering of leaves. The development of a more satisfactory process of preservation has been the objective of investigators for many years. In recent years artificial dehydration of these crops has been investigated as a method of preservation. However, the large capital outlay and high operating costs nearly eliminate it from consideration of the average dairymen. Preservation of these crops in silos seems to be the most logical solution to the problem. Direct-cut silage has not been entirely satisfactory due to low quality and rather high preservation losses. If these crops can be preserved as low-moisture silage and stored irrespective of the weather. The common haymaking losses will be greatly reduced because the crop is exposed to less weathering during the curing process. With the trend toward farm mechanization, a feeding program utilizing low-moisture silage appears quite popular. Therefore, it was desirable to investigate the possibility of storing low-moisture silage in concrete stave silos and to determine the effects of an enzymic mixture in the preservation and feeding value of such ensilage.