Whole-cell biosensors for environmental monitoring.
Concern over the pollution risk to drinking water from industry and agriculture is growing, and the need for continuous on-line monitoring recognised. There is increasing use of living organisms as the sensitive agent to detect the presence of pollutants, and whole-cell biosensors are seen to have particular advantages in such environmental monitoring. The development of a mediated amperometric biosensor, incorporating the cyanobacterium Synechococcus as the biocatalyst, for on-line herbicide monitoring is described. The biosensor is able to detect a wide range of herbicides with sites of action on the photosynthetic electron transport chain, at concentrations down to 20 micrograms litre-1 and possesses a working life of up to 7 days. The use of alginate immobilisation of the biocatalyst to overcome the problems associated with obtaining a realistic shelf life for the biosensor is discussed.
Centre for Applied Technology and Innovation, Luton College of Higher Education, Bedfordshire, UK.
D M
DM
Rawson
A J
AJ
Willmer
A P
AP
Turner
D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D006540:Herbicides