A biosensor for the analysis of acetonitrile

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Acetonitrile is a common industrial solvent requiring effective monitoring.
• Existing monitoring methods may lack selectivity or stability.
• Biosensors offer a promising approach for real-time environmental analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and evaluate an amperometric biosensor for acetonitrile detection.
• To improve the operational selectivity of the biosensor by addressing interference from reaction products.
• To assess the stability and potential application of the biosensor in degradation process monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a biosensor using a mixed microbial culture on a Clark electrode.
• Integration of the biosensor into a flow injection system with a flow-through cell.
• Implementation of a hydrophobic barrier to mitigate interference from acetic acid and ammonia.

Main Results:

• The biosensor demonstrated a strong correlation between metabolic oxygen consumption and acetonitrile concentration.
• Interference from acetic acid and ammonia led to erratic responses without the hydrophobic barrier.
• The addition of a hydrophobic barrier significantly improved the sensor's operational selectivity.
• The biosensor exhibited good analytical stability for at least six days.

Conclusions:

• The developed biosensor is effective for monitoring acetonitrile concentrations.
• The hydrophobic barrier is crucial for enhancing selectivity in complex samples.
• The biosensor shows potential for real-time monitoring and control of acetonitrile degradation processes.