A simple, sensitive, and accurate alcohol electrode
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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies
Published on: February 19, 2011
C Verduyn1, J P Van Dijken, W A Scheffers
1Delft University of Technology, Laboratory of Microbiology, Julianalaan 67a, 2628 BC Delft, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The construction and performance of an enzyme electrode is described which specifically detects lower primary aliphatic alcohols in aqueous solutions. The electrode consists of a commercial Clark-type oxygen electrode on which alcohol oxidase (E.C. 1.1.3.13) and catalase were immobilized. The decrease in electrode current is linearly proportional to ethanol concentrations between 1 and 25 ppm. The response of the electrode remains constant during 400 assays over a period of two weeks. The response time is between 1 and 25 min. Assembly of the electrode takes less than 1 h.
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