Amperometric enzyme electrodes for the determination of volatile alcohols in the headspace above fruit and vegetable juices

Title data

Schlangen, Claudia ; Hämmerle, Martin ; Moos, Ralf:
Amperometric enzyme electrodes for the determination of volatile alcohols in the headspace above fruit and vegetable juices.
In: Microchimica Acta. Vol. 179 (2012) Issue 1-2 . - pp. 115-121.
ISSN 1436-5073
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-012-0867-5

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

We have investigated two amperometric biosensors for the determination of volatile alcohols in the headspace of fruit juices and vegetable juices. One type of sensor is based on the use of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and the detection of NADH (at +300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl with phenothiazine as redox mediator), and the other on the use of alcohol oxidase (AOx) and the detection of hydrogen peroxide (at +600 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). Samples were analyzed with the AOx-based biosensor by measuring the alcohol concentration in the headspace above the liquid without prior sorption or pre-concentration. The sensor has a linear response in the range 0.1–20.0 mM of alcohol (referred to the concentration in the liquid sample). It has excellent stability in that the signal decreases by 4.5 % only over a 60 h operational period. However, a comparison of the AOx-based biosensor with HPLC and an enzyme test kit revealed an overestimation of ethanol levels in juices by the biosensor due to the simultaneous detection of methanol present in the samples. A flow-through version of the biosensor placed at the exit of a HPLC system proved this assumption. In order to improve the specificity for ethanol, the ADH-based sensor was studied. While showing no cross sensitivity to methanol, its stability was rather limited, this making it not suitable for practical applications. Headspace analysis offers advantages such as high selectivity (because it can be interfered by volatile substances only) and the lack of contamination of the sensor by species in the liquid juice.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Engineering Science Faculties > Faculty of Engineering Science > Chair Functional Materials > Chair Functional Materials - Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Moos Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Engineering Science > Chair Functional Materials Profile Fields > Advanced Fields > Advanced Materials Research Institutions > Research Centres > Bayreuth Center for Material Science and Engineering - BayMAT Profile Fields Profile Fields > Advanced Fields Research Institutions Research Institutions > Research Centres
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	600 Technology, medicine, applied sciences > 620 Engineering
Date Deposited:	19 Jan 2015 11:31
Last Modified:	14 Apr 2016 06:56
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/5592