CELL BIOSENSOR FOR DETECTION OF PHENOL IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

A microbial sensor for concentration measurement of phenol in aqueous solutions has been developed. Phenol-utilizing cells Pseudomonas putid a GFS-8 immobilized in poly(vinyl)alcohol cryogel were used as a biolo gical transducer. Relationships between phenol concentration in the ac tivating medium and endogenic cell respiration have been established. Cell respiration and phenol concentration in the assay solution positi vely correlated at a phenol concentration range of 0.1-2.0 mg/L and we re linearly dependent in the range of 0.1-1.0 mg/L. A Clark membrane e lectrode was the physiochemical transducer. The assay may be completed within 5 min. The cells oxidize phenol, pyrocatechol, mesityl oxide, aniline, and do not react with a number of xenobiotics, sugars, and al cohol. With the exception of aniline, most components found in waste w aters from phenol production affect neither the assay process nor the ability of these cells to use phenol as exogenic respiratory substrate . The immobilized cells retained their ability to utilize phenol as an exogenic respiratory substrate for up to 1 mo.