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Constant Volume Calorimetry

Constant Volume Calorimetry

Calorimeters are useful to determine the heat released or absorbed by a chemical reaction. Coffee cup calorimeters are designed to operate at constant (atmospheric) pressure and are convenient to measure heat flow (or enthalpy change) accompanying processes that occur in solution at constant pressure. A different type of calorimeter that operates at constant volume, colloquially known as a bomb calorimeter, is used to measure the energy produced by reactions that yield large amounts of heat and...

Constant Pressure Calorimetry

Constant Pressure Calorimetry

Calorimetry is a technique used to measure the amount of heat involved in a chemical or physical process or to measure the heat transferred to or from a substance. The heat is exchanged with a calibrated and insulated device called the calorimeter. Calorimetry experiments are based on the assumption that there is no heat exchange between the insulated calorimeter and the external environment. The well-insulated calorimeters prevent the transfer of heat between the calorimeter and its external...

Calorimetry

Calorimetry

When objects at different temperatures are placed in contact with each other but isolated from everything else, they attain thermal equilibrium. A container that prevents heat transfer in or out is called a calorimeter, and the use of a calorimeter to make measurements is called calorimetry. Generally, these measurements involve heat or specific heat capacity. The term "calorimetry problem" is used for any problem where the specified objects are thermally isolated from their...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices

Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices

Published on: June 3, 2015

Sub-nanowatt microfluidic single-cell calorimetry.

Sahngki Hong^1,2, Edward Dechaumphai², Courtney R Green³

¹Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.

Nature Communications

|June 14, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

We developed highly sensitive microfluidic single-cell calorimetry, achieving 0.2-nW sensitivity. This breakthrough allows precise measurement of cellular heat production and metabolic activity in real-time without altering cell behavior.

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A Microfluidic Chip for the Versatile Chemical Analysis of Single Cells

A Microfluidic Chip for the Versatile Chemical Analysis of Single Cells

Published on: October 15, 2013

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Microfluidics

Background:

Calorimetry is crucial for studying single-cell metabolism but is limited by low sensitivity.
Existing techniques often alter cell behavior due to their invasive nature or lack of label-free capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a highly sensitive, non-invasive, and label-free microfluidic single-cell calorimetry technique.
To enhance the sensitivity of single-cell calorimetry beyond previous records for improved metabolic studies.
To enable real-time monitoring of cellular metabolic responses.

Main Methods:

Implemented a low-noise thermometry platform with ultralow long-term temperature noise (80 μK).
Designed a microfluidic channel-in-vacuum system for cell flow, nutrient delivery, and low thermal conductance (2.5 μW K⁻¹).
Utilized Tetrahymena thermophila as a model organism for on-chip calorimetry measurements.

Main Results:

Achieved a record sensitivity of 0.2 nW, a ten-fold enhancement over previous methods.
Measured single-cell metabolic heat rates from 1 to 4 nW, correlating with cell size.
Successfully monitored real-time metabolic rate stimulation using a mitochondrial uncoupling agent.

Conclusions:

The developed microfluidic single-cell calorimetry platform significantly advances the study of cellular metabolism.
This technique offers a powerful tool for non-invasive, label-free analysis of cellular heat production and metabolic dynamics.
Enables determination of spare respiratory capacity and real-time metabolic responses in single cells.