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Two flow injection systems for detection of acid phosphatase (ACP) activity have been investigated. In both systems, monofluorophosphate (MFP) as a specific and inexpensive substrate for ACP and LaF(3) membrane-based ion-selective electrode as a potentiometric detector of fluoride ions released in the course of the biocatalytic hydrolysis of MFP were applied. The continuous-flow mode was modified to include a stopped-flow segment, with separate valve control, to increase reaction time and minimize dispersion while increasing system throughput. The bioanalytical utility of these systems was compared for quantifying of ACP activity in human serum standards.

A spectrophotometric flow-injection analysis (FIA) system for monitoring clinical hemodialysis is demonstrated. The role of a dialysate urea detector incorporated in this bioanalytical system is played by an optical flow-through biosensor based on Prussian Blue film with chemically linked urease forming a monomolecular layer of the enzyme. This pH-enzyme optode-FIA system is useful for the selective determination of post-dialysate urea in the range of concentration corresponding to its level in real clinical samples (2-16 mmol l(-1)). This bioanalytical system allows the analysis of about 15 samples of spent dialysate per hour. The operational and storage stabilities of the applied biosensor are longer than 2 weeks and 2 months, respectively. Clinical evaluation of the bioanalytical system was performed.

A simple, low-cost and reproducible method for the mass production of potentiometric ion-selective electrodes for copper ions is presented. These planar, strip sensors were obtained by screen-printing. The application of pastes cured at low temperature allows printing of the sensors on low-cost, plastic substrates. The pastes for printing of ion-sensitive thick-film membranes were based on copper (1) and copper (II) sulfides. The analytical characteristics of the thick-film electrodes were compared. The analytical properties (range of determination, sensitivity, selectivity, response time) of the copper (I) sulfide-based sensors were comparable with those for conventional ion-selective electrodes.

The autoprotolysis constants of propylene glycol and its mixtures with water, acetone, propan-2-ol and chloroform have been determined potentiometrically. In the same solvent mixtures the protolysis constants of the phthalic acid-hydrogen phthalate system have been evaluated and indicate that the solvent is more acidic than water, but less acidic than ethylene glycol.