Biosensors: MICREDOX - a new biosensor technique for rapid measurement of BOD and toxicity

The combination of electrochemical, optical, acoustical and other measureme nt techniques with the specificity of biological recognition systems has re sulted in a range of new analytical devices known as biosensors. Biosensors are under intensive development worldwide because they have a multitude of potential applications, in particular, clinical medicine, environmental mo nitoring and process control of industrial processes. Their basic principle s, mode of operation, performance requirements and current trends will be r eviewed. A brief description of a novel biosensor developed at Lincoln Tech nology, the MICREDOX method, is outlined and applications for rapid measure ment of biochemical oxygen demand and toxicity measurements are described. Preliminary data obtained using the MICREDOX method are reported for three standard toxic materials, zinc sulphate, 3,5-dichlorophenol and sodium laur yl sulphate.