Determination of Oxalate with Immobilized Oxalate Oxidase in an Enzyme Thermistor

This paper describes a rapid enzymic procedure, based on calorimetry, for specific determination of oxalic acid. Oxalate is oxidized by immobilized oxalate oxidase to hydrogen peroxide and carbon dioxide. The heat generated by this reaction is measured in a calorimetric device, the enzyme thermistor. Oxalate concentrations as low as 0.02 mM can be determined. Also described is purification and immobilization of the enzyme, as well as the effect of some of its inhibitors. The urinary oxalate content of 16 persons was determined using the enzyme thermistor. For samples containing a very low concentration of oxalate (less than 0.2 mM) an extraction step with tributylphosphate can be introduced to purify and concentrate the oxalate. The oxalate content in different kinds of food was also determined.