DEVELOPMENT OF A MASS-PRODUCIBLE GLUCOSE BIOSENSOR AND FLOW-INJECTIONANALYSIS SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR ONLINE MONITORING DURING FERMENTATIONS

Screen printed amperometric glucose biosensors were constructed and op timised for use in a flow injection analysis (FIA) system. The sensors were fabricated using a catalytic metallised carbon based ink, allowi ng a working potential of +350 mV (Ag/AgCl). Overall the sensors displ ayed a high degree of reliability and robustness. A linear response wa s obtained over the range 0.1 to 25 mM glucose with a slope of 1.35 +/ - 0.20 mu A/mM. The within electrode coefficient of variation at each concentration tested (n = 10) was less than 2% (or 0.1 mM for concentr ations below 5 mM). In addition, it was demonstrated that a single sen sor can be used in the FIA system over a seven day period indicating a high level of operational stability. These sensors fulfil the criteri a necessary for a mass produced device, which would be suitable for th e on-line monitoring of glucose consumption during microbial fermentat ion.