Development of a PPO-poly(amphiphilic pyrrole) electrode for on site monitoring of phenol in aqueous effluents

A feasibility study in view of a future industrial development of a phenol biosensor is presented. The biosensor construction is based on the electrop olymerization of a pyrrole amphiphilic monomer-tyrosinase (EC.1.14.18.1) mi xture previously adsorbed on a glassy carbon electrode surface. The optimiz ed biosensor provides a low detection limit (10 nM) and a linear response u p to 10 mu M of phenol. The procedure allows the construction of biosensors exhibiting very reproducible characteristics. These bioelectrodes are char acterized by exceptional long-term stability since they could be stored for 1 year without significant loss of their electroenzymatic activity. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.