A microbial biosensor system for dihalomethanes

A biosensor system able to measure dichloromethane (DCM) and other dihalomethanes has been developed. The analysis is based on Hyphomicrobium DM2 cells immobilized in alginate. A combination of transducers consisting of a flow-calorimeter followed by a chloride-sensitive electrode has been used. By this design it was possible to monitor different aspects of the cell metabolism from one and the same pulse of substrate. The detection limit for the biosensor was 0.1 microM dichloromethane. The biosensor system can be used for continuous measurements in a sample stream.