Bacterial sensors based on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Part II. Cr(VI) determination

The aerobic acidophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans oxidizes Fe(2+) and S(2)O(3)(2-) ions by consuming oxygen. An amperometric biosensor was designed including an oxygen probe as transducer and a recognition element immobilized by a suitable home-made membrane. This biosensor was used for the indirect amperometric determination of Cr(2)O(7)(2-) ions owing to methods based on a mediator (Fe(2+)) or titration. Using the mediator, the biosensor response versus Cr(2)O(7)(2-) was linear up to 0.4 mmol L(-1), with a response time of, respectively, 51 s (2 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) Cr(2)O(7)(2-)) and 61 s (6 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) Cr(2)O(7)(2-)). The method sensitivity was 816 microA L mol(-1). Response time and measurement sensitivity depended on membrane material and technique for biomass immobilization. For example, their values were 90 s-200 microA L mol(-1) when using a glass-felt membrane and 540 s-4.95 microA L mol(-1) with a carbon felt one to determine a concentration of 2 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) Cr(2)O(7)(2-). For the titration method, the biosensor is used to determine the equivalence point. The relative error of quantitative analysis was lower than 5%.