Phenol biosensor based on Sonogel-Carbon transducer with tyrosinase alumina sol-gel immobilization

A new biosensor for detection of phenols, based on tyrosinase immobilization with alumina sol-gel on Sonogel-Carbon transducer, has been developed. The electrode was prepared using high energy ultrasounds directly applied to the precursors. The alumina sol-gel provided a microenvironment for retaining the native structure and activity of the entrapped enzyme and a very low mass transport barrier to the enzyme substrates. Phenols are oxidized by tyrosinase biosensor to form a detectable product, which was determined at -300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode. For phenol, the sensor exhibited a fast response which resulted from the porous structure and high enzyme loading of the sol-gel matrix. The linear range was from 5 x 10(-7) M to 3 x 10(-5) M, with a detection limit of 3 x 10(-7) M. The stability of the biosensor was also evaluated. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.