Development of a PPO-poly(amphiphilic pyrrole) electrode for on site monitoring of phenol in aqueous effluents

A feasibility study in view of a future industrial development of a phenol biosensor is presented. The biosensor construction is based on the electropolymerization of a pyrrole amphiphilic monomer–tyrosinase (EC.1.14.18.1) mixture previously adsorbed on a glassy carbon electrode surface. The optimized biosensor provides a low detection limit (10 nM) and a linear response up to 10 μM of phenol. The procedure allows the construction of biosensors exhibiting very reproducible characteristics. These bioelectrodes are characterized by exceptional long-term stability since they could be stored for 1 year without significant loss of their electroenzymatic activity.