Disposable tyrosinase-peroxidase bi-enzyme sensor for amperometric detection of phenols

A new disposable amperometric bi-enzyme sensor system for detecting phenols has been developed. The phenol sensor developed uses horseradish peroxidase modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (HRP-SPCEs) coupled with immobilized tyrosinase prepared using poly(carbamoylsulfonate) (PCs) hydrogels or a poly(vinyl alcohol) bearing styrylpyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ) matrix. Optimization of the experimental parameters has been performed with regard to buffer composition, pH, operating potential and storage stability. A co-operative reaction involving tyrosinase and HRP occurs at a potential of -50 mV versus Ag/AgCl without the requirement for addition of extraneous H2O2, thus, resulting in a very simple and efficient system. Comparison of the electrode responses with the 4-aminoantipyrine standard method for phenol sample analysis indicated the feasibility of the disposable sensor system for sensitive 'in-field' determination of phenols. The most sensitive system was the tyrosinase immobilized HRP-SPCE using PCs, which displayed detection limits for phenolic compounds in the lower nanomolar range e.g. 2.5 nM phenol, 10 nM catechol and 5 nM p-cresol. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.