Multienzyme electrochemical array sensor for determination of phenols and pesticides

The screen-printed four-electrode system was used as the amperometric transducer for determination of phenols and pesticides using immobilised tyrosinase, peroxidase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Acetylthiocholine chloride was chosen as substrate for cholinesterases to measure inhibition by pesticides, hydrogen peroxide served as co-substrate for peroxidase to measure phenols. The compatibility of hydrolases and oxidoreductases working in the same array was studied. The detection of p-cresol, catechol and phenol as well as of pesticides including carbaryl, heptenophos and fenitrothion was carried out in flow-through and steady state arrangements. In addition, the effects of heavy metals (Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Fe(3+)), fluoride (NaF), benzene and dimethylsulphoxide on cholinesterase activities were evaluated. It was demonstrated that electrodes modified with hydrolases and oxidoreductases can function in the same array. The achieved R.S.D. values obtained for the flow system were below 4% for the same sensor and less than 10% within a group of five sensors. For the steady state system, R.S.D.s were approximately twice higher. One assay was completed in less than 6min. The limit of detection for catechol using tyrosinase was equal to 0.35 and 1.7muM in the flow and steady state systems, respectively. On the contrary, lower limits of detection for pesticides were achieved in the steady state system-carbaryl 26nM, heptenophos 14nM and fenitrothion 0.58muM.