A fiber optic biosensor for sulfite analysis in food

The sulfite fiber optic biosensor developed herein is based on the enzymatic oxidation reaction of sulfite catalyzed by sulfite oxidase (SOD). The consumption of O(2) is measured with an O(2) fiber optic sensor which monitors the fluorescence quenching of the indicator, perylene, by molecular oxygen. Perylene is immobilized into a polymer matrix and attached to the end of a fiber bundle forming an O(2) sensor. The enzyme, sulfite oxidase is immobilized on a pre-activated membrane and mounted onto the O(2) sensor. Several analytical characteristics of this sulfite biosensor were investigated including dynamic range, reversibility, reproducibility, stability and selectivity. The sulfite contents of various food samples, e.g. dried fruits, potato flakes, lemon juice were determined and the results obtained were in good agreement with the standard AOAC method.