Fast detection of high molecular weight substances in wastewater based on an enzymatic hydrolysis combined with the Arxula BOD sensor system

A microbial amperometric sensor based on the yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3 was tested for its suitability to measure the biochemical oxygen demand in curred by the use of high molecular weight substances, such as starch, cell ulose and milk powder. As with other sensors, the untreated samples varied strongly from the corresponding BOD5. Digestion of macromolecules with alph a -amylase, cellulase and protease for 30 min at 37 degreesC resulted in se nsor BOD values which correlated better with BOD, values when corrected for the enzyme blank signal. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical industry.