Optical whole-cell biosensor using Chlorella vulgaris designed for monitoring herbicides

An optical biosensor was designed for determination of herbicides as aquatic contaminants. Detection was obtained with immobilised Chlorella vulgaris microalgae entrapped on a quartz microfibre filter and placed in a five-membrane-home-made-flow cell. The algal chlorophyll fluorescence modified by the presence of herbicides was collected at the tip of an optical fibre bundle and sent to a fluorimeter. A continuous culture was set up to produce algal cells in reproducible conditions for measurement optimisation. Effects of flow rate, algal density, temperature, and pH on the biosensor response to atrazine were studied. Reversibility and detection limits were determined for DNOC and atrazine, simazine, isoproturon, diuron. Detection of photosystem II (PSII) herbicides was achieved at sub-ppb concentration level.