A MICROBIAL SENSOR FOR 2-ETHOXYPHENOL

An amperometric biosensor using bacterial cells as the biological comp onent was developed for the determination of 2-ethoxyphenol. The measu rement was based on the respiratory activity of Rhodococcus rhodochrou s strain 116 cells. This bacterium grew on 2-ethoxyphenol as the sole source of organic carbon, under induction of cytochrome P450RR1, a mon ooxygenase specific for 2-ethoxyphenol. Cultivation of bacteria was op timized to harvest cells with maximum concentration of the oxygen-cons uming substrate-specific enzyme system. Xenobiotics and natural organi c compounds were tested as substrates for the biosensor. The system wa s calibrated for 2-ethoxyphenol. The linear range of detection for 2-e thoxyphenol was between 0.05 and 0.4 mM.