Surfactant Sensors in Biotechnology Part 1 – Electrochemical Sensors

Milan Sak-Bosnar¹, Zorana Grabarić² and Božidar S. Grabarić²*

¹Metaport AG, Laettenweg 24, CH-8106 Adlikon-Zürich, Switzerland
²Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Article history:
Received June 1, 2004
Accepted February July 6, 2004

Key words:
surfactants, sensors, electrochemical, potentiometric, conductometric, ISFET sensors, amperometric, biotechnology

Summary:
An overview on electrochemical surfactant sensors is given with special attention to papers published since 1993. The importance of surfactants in modern biotechnology is stressed out. Electrochemical sensors are usually divided according to the measured physical quantity to potentiometric, amperometric, conductometric and impedimetric surfactant sensors. The last ones are very few. Potentiometric surfactant sensors are the most numerous due to their simplicity and versatility. They can be used either as end-point titration sensors or as direct EMF measurement sensors, in batch or flow-through mode. Some amperometric surfactant sensors are true biosensors that use microorganisms or living cells.

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