Ion Selective Amperometric Biosensors for Environmental Analysis of Nitrate, Nitrite and Sulfate

Inorganic ions that can be redox-transformed by living cells can be sensed by biosensors, where the redox transformation gives rise to a current in a measuring circuit. Such biosensors may be based on enzymes, or they may be based on application of whole cells. In this review focus will be on biosensors for the environmentally important ions NO(3)(−), NO(2)(−), and SO(4)(2−), and for comparison alternative sensor-based detection will also be mentioned. The developed biosensors are generally characterized by a high degree of specificity, but unfortunately also by relatively short lifetimes. There are several investigations where biosensor measurement of NO(3)(−) and NO(2)(−) have given new insight into the functioning of nitrogen transformations in man-made and natural environments such as sediments and biofilms, but the biosensors have not become routine tools. Future modifications resulting in better long-term stability may enable such general use.