Electrochemical determination of arsenite using a gold nanoparticle modified glassy carbon electrode and flow analysis

A flow analysis electrochemical system has been developed, characterized, and optimized for the determination of arsenite (As(III)). Sensitivity was significantly improved by the electrochemical deposition of gold nanoparticles on a dual glassy carbon electrode, which was inserted into a cross-flow thin-layer electrochemical cell. The electrochemical system was linear up to 15 ppb with a detection limit of 0.25 ppb. Gold deposition was evident from cyclic voltammetry measurements, whereas atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed the size and distribution of deposited gold nanoparticles. The size and density of the nanoparticles were related to the gold salt concentration, deposition time, and potential as well as the electrode position. The response to arsenite was directly related to the frequency, increment, and amplitude of the square wave voltammetry as well as the deposition time and potential. Estimated reproducibility was +/-1.1% at 95% confidence interval for 40 repeated analyses of 8 ppb arsenite during continuous analysis. The reproducibility was far superior if the electrochemical reduction of arsenite was performed in nitric acid instead of hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. The electrochemical system was applicable for analysis of spiked arsenic in mineral water containing a significant amount of various ion elements.     

Reusable platinum nanoparticle modified boron doped diamond microelectrodes for oxidative determination of arsenite

Boron doped diamond (BDD) macro- and microelectrodes were modified by electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles using a multipotential step electrodeposition technique and used for the oxidative determination of arsenite, As(III). The formation of Pt nanoparticles was evident from cyclic voltammetry measurement, whereas AFM and SEM revealed the size and size distribution of deposited Pt nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy illustrated a correlation between the typical BDD signature and the number of platinum deposition cycles. Linear sweep voltammetry performed with the modified BDD microelectrode outperformed its macrocounterpart and resulted in very low detecting currents with enhanced signal-to-noise ratios. With linearity up to 100 ppb and a detection limit of 0.5 ppb, the electrochemical system was applicable for processing tap and river water samples. Over 150 repetitive runs could be performed, and electrochemical etching of platinum allowed the reuse of the BDD microelectrode. The presence of copper and chloride ions, the two most severe interferents at levels commonly found in groundwater, did not interfere with the assay.     

The oxidative transformation of sodium arsenite at the interface of α-MnO2 and water

Arsenite is acute contaminant to human health in soil and water environment. In this study, Pyrolusite (α-MnO₂) was used to investigate the oxidative transformation of arsenite into arsenate with batch experiments under different reaction conditions. The results showed that arsenite transformation occurred and was accompanied by the adsorption and fixation of both As(III) and As(V) on α-MnO₂. About 90% of sodium arsenite (10 mg/L) were transformed by α-MnO₂ under the conditions of 25 °C and pH 6.0, 36.6% of which was adsorbed and 28.9% fixed by α-MnO₂. Increased α-MnO₂ dosages promoted As (III) transformation rate and adsorption of arsenic species. The transformation rate and adsorption of arsenic species raised with increasing pH values of reaction solution from 4.7 to 8.0. The oxidation rate decreased and adsorbed As(III) and As(V) increased with increasing initial arsenite concentration. The enhancement on oxidative transformation of sodium arsenite may result from abundant active sites of α-MnO₂. Along with adsorption and fixation of arsenic species during the reaction, the crystal structure of α-MnO₂ did not change, but the surface turned petty and loosen. Our results demonstrated that α-MnO₂ has important potential in arsenic transformation and removal as the environmentally friendly natural oxidant in soil and surface water.     

Metallic nanoparticle-carbon nanotube composites for electrochemical determination of explosive nitroaromatic compounds

Metal nanoparticles (Pt, Au, or Cu) together with multiwalled and single-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT and SWCNT) solubilized in Nafion have been used to form nanocomposites for electrochemical detection of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and several other nitroaromatics. Electrochemical and surface characterization by cyclic voltammetry, AFM, TEM, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of metal nanoparticles on CNTs. Among various combinations tested, the most synergistic signal effect was observed for the nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GC) containing Cu nanoparticles and SWCNT solubilized in Nafion. This combination provided the best sensitivity for detecting TNT and other nitroaromatic compounds. Adsorptive stripping voltammetry for TNT resulted in a detection limit of 1 ppb, with linearity up to 3 orders of magnitude. Selectivity toward the number and position of the nitro groups in different nitroaromatics was very reproducible and distinct. Reproducibility of the TNT signal was within 7% (n = 8) from one electrode preparation to another, and the response signal was stable (+/-3.8% at 95% confidence interval) for 40 repeated analyses with 10 min of preconditioning. The Cu-SWCNT-modified GC electrode was demonstrated for analysis of TNT in tap water, river water, and contaminated soil.     

Biosensor for asparagine using a thermostable recombinant asparaginase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus

Asparaginase from the hyperthermophilic microorganism Archaeoglobus fulgidus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with a polyhistidine tail. After heat treatment to denature most of the native E. coli proteins, the enzyme was purified by an immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography method. The activity of the enzyme was determined by monitoring the change in ammonium concentration in solution. It was found that the enzyme is thermostable at temperatures as high as 85 degrees C. The KM for L-asparagine was 8 x 10(-5) and 5 x 10(-6) M at 37 and 70 degrees C, respectively. The catalytic activity for L-asparagine was 5-fold higher than for D-asparagine. The enzyme was immobilized in front of an ammonium-selective electrode and used to develop a biosensor for asparagine. The biosensor had a detection limit of 6 x 10(-5) M for L-asparagine. Unlike a sensor based on asparaginase from E. coli, the biosensor based on recombinant asparaginase from A. fulgidus demonstrated higher stability.     

Electrochemiluminescent biosensor for hypoxanthine based on the electrically heated carbon paste electrode modified with xanthine oxidase

A new electrochemiluminescent (ECL) biosensor based on an electrically heated carbon paste electrode (HCPE) that was surface modified by xanthine oxidase (XOD) was designed and constructed in this work. It was found that the ECL intensity of luminol could be enhanced at the surface of XOD/HCPE by adding hypoxanthine (HX) to the solution, and there was a linear relationship between the ECL intensity and the concentration of HX. On the basis of this, an ECL enzyme biosensor can thus be developed to detect HX. However, because the activity of XOD is highly dependent on temperature, the biosensor is very sensitive to the temperature of the electrode. Also, because the temperature of the electrode may also affect the diffusion and convection of the luminescent compounds near the electrode surface, a suitable temperature for XOD/HCPE has to be controlled to achieve the best ECL signal. The key feature of the designed biosensor is that the temperature of the electrode is controllable so the most suitable temperature for the enzyme reaction can be obtained. The obtained results showed that the ECL enzyme biosensor exhibited the best sensitivity at an electrode temperature of 35 degrees C for the detection of HX. The detection limit was 30-fold lower than that at room temperature (25 degrees C).     

Rational design and one-step formation of multifunctional gel transducer for simple fabrication of integrated electrochemical biosensors

This study demonstrates a new strategy to simplify the biosensor fabrication and thus minimize the biosensor-to-biosensor deviation through rational design and one-step formation of a multifunctional gel electronic transducer integrating all elements necessitated for efficiently transducing the biorecognition events to signal readout, by using glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) based electrochemical biosensor as an example. To meet the requirements for preparing integrated biosensors and retaining electronic and ionic conductivities for electronically transducing process, ionic liquids (ILs) with enzyme cofactor (i.e., oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) as the anion were synthesized and used to form a bucky gel with single-walled carbon nanotubes, in which methylene green electrocatalyst was stably encapsulated for the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. With such kind of rationally designed and one-step-formed multifunctional gel as the electronic transducer, the GDH-based electrochemical biosensors were simply fabricated by polishing the electrodes onto the gel followed by enzyme immobilization. This capability greatly simplifies the biosensor fabrication, prolongs the stability of the biosensors, and, more remarkably, minimizes the biosensor-to-biosensor deviation. The relative standard deviations obtained both with one electrode for the repeated measurements of glucose and with the different electrodes prepared with the same method for the concurrent measurements of glucose with the same concentration were 3.30% (n = 7) and 4.70% (n = 6), respectively. These excellent properties of the multifunctional gel-based biosensors substantially enable them to well-satisfy the pressing need of rapid measurements, for example, environmental monitoring, food analysis, and clinical diagnoses.     

Electrocatalytic detection of NADH and glycerol by NAD(+)-modified carbon electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of the adenine moiety in NAD+ and other adenine nucleotides at carbon paste electrodes gives rise to redox-active products which strongly adsorb on the electrode surface. Carbon paste electrodes modified with the oxidation products of NAD+ show excellent electrocatalytic activity toward NADH oxidation, reducing its overpotential by about 400 mV. The rate constant for the catalytic oxidation of NADH, determined by rotating disk electrode measurements and extrapolation to zero concentration of NADH, was found to be 2.5 x 10(5) M-1 s-1. The catalytic oxidation current allows the amperometric detection of NADH at an applied potential of +50 mV (Ag/AgCl) with a detection limit of 4.0 x 10(-7) M and linear response up to 1.0 x 10(-5) M NADH. These modified electrodes can be used as amperometric transducers in the design of biosensors based on coupled dehydrogenase enzymes and, in fact, we have designed an amperometric biosensor for glycerol based on the glycerol dehydrogenase (GlDH) system. The enzyme GlDH and its cofactor NAD+ were co-immobilized in a carbon paste electrode using an electropolymerized layer of nonconducting poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PPD). After partial oxidation of the immobilized NAD+, the modified electrode allows the amperometric detection of the NADH enzymatically obtained at applied potential above 0 V (Ag/AgCl). The resulting biosensor shows a fast and linear response to glycerol within the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-4) M with a detection limit of 4.3 x 10(-7) M. The amperometric response remains stable for at least 3 days. The biosensor was applied to the determination of glycerol in a plant-extract syrup, with results in good agreement with those for the standard spectrophotometric method.     

Enzyme biosensor based on plasma-polymerized film-covered carbon nanotube layer grown directly on a flat substrate

We report a novel approach to fabrication of an amperometric biosensor with an enzyme, a plasma-polymerized film (PPF), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs were grown directly on an island-patterned Co/Ti/Cr layer on a glass substrate by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The as-grown CNTs were subsequently treated by nitrogen plasma, which changed the surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic in order to obtain an electrochemical contact between the CNTs and enzymes. A glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme was then adsorbed onto the CNT surface and directly treated with acetonitrile plasma to overcoat the GOx layer with a PPF. This fabrication process provides a robust design of CNT-based enzyme biosensor, because of all processes are dry except the procedure for enzyme immobilization. The main novelty of the present methodology lies in the PPF and/or plasma processes. The optimized glucose biosensor revealed a high sensitivity of 38 μA mM(-1) cm(-2), a broad linear dynamic range of 0.25-19 mM (correlation coefficient of 0.994), selectivity toward an interferent (ascorbic acid), and a fast response time of 7 s. The background current was much smaller in magnitude than the current due to 10 mM glucose response. The low limit of detection was 34 μM (S/N = 3). All results strongly suggest that a plasma-polymerized process can provide a new platform for CNT-based biosensor design.     

Electrochemical detection of arsenic(III) using iridium-implanted boron-doped diamond electrodes

Iridium-modified, boron-doped diamond electrodes fabricated by an ion implantation method have been developed for electrochemical detection of arsenite (As(III)). Ir+ ions were implanted with an energy of 800 keV and a dose of 10(15) ion cm(-2). An annealing treatment at 850 degrees C for 45 min in H2 plasma (80 Torr) was required to rearrange metastable diamond produced by an implantation process. Characterization was investigated by SEM, AFM, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and flow injection analysis with amperometric detection were used to study the electrochemical reaction. The electrodes exhibited high catalytic activity toward As(III) oxidation with the detection limit (S/N = 3), sensitivity, and linearity of 20 nM (1.5 ppb), 93 nA microM(-1) cm(-2), and 0.999, respectively. The precision for 10 replicate determinations of 50 microM As(III) was 4.56% relative standard deviation. The advantageous properties of the electrodes were its inherent stability with a very low background current. The electrode was applicable for analysis of spiked arsenic in tap water containing a significant amount of various ion elements. The results indicate that the metal-implanted method could be promising for controlling the electrochemical properties of diamond electrodes.     

Optimal environment for glucose oxidase in perfluorosulfonated ionomer membranes: improvement of first-generation biosensors

An optimal environment for glucose oxidase (GOx) in Nafion membranes is achieved using an advanced immobilization protocol based on a nonaqueous immobilization route. Exposure of glucose oxidase to water-organic mixtures with a high (85-95%) content of the organic solvent resulted in stabilization of the enzyme by a membrane-forming polyelectrolyte. Such an optimal environment leads to the highest enzyme specific activity in the resulting membrane, as desired for optimal use of the expensive oxidases. Casting solution containing glucose oxidase and Nafion is completely stable over 5 days in a refrigerator, providing almost absolute reproducibility of GOx-Nafion membranes. A glucose biosensor was prepared by casting the GOx-Nafion membranes over Prussian Blue-modified glassy carbon disk electrodes. The biosensor operated in the FIA mode allows the detection of glucose down to the 0.1 microM level, along with high sensitivity (0.05 A M(-1) cm(-2)), which is only 10 times lower than the sensitivity of the hydrogen peroxide transducer used. A comparison with the recently reported enzyme electrodes based on similar H2O2 transducers (transition metal hexacyanoferrates) shows that the proposed approach displays a dramatic (100-fold) improvement in sensitivity of the resulting biosensor. Combined with the attractive performance of a Prussian Blue-based hydrogen peroxide transducer, the proposed immobilization protocol provides a superior performance for first-generation glucose biosensors in term of sensitivity and detection limits.     

V-type nerve agent detection using a carbon nanotube-based amperometric enzyme electrode

An enzyme electrode for the detection of V-type nerve agents, VX (O-ethyl-S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioate) and R-VX (O-isobutyl-S-2-diethylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioate), is proposed. The principle of the new biosensor is based on the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the nerve agents and amperometric detection of the thiol-containing hydrolysis products at carbon nanotube-modified screen-printed electrodes. Demeton-S was used as a nerve agent mimic. 2-(Diethylamino)ethanethiol (DEAET) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol (DMAET), the thiol-containing hydrolysis product and hydrolysis product mimic of R-VX and VX, respectively, were monitored by exploiting the electrocatalytic activity of carbon nanotubes (CNT). As low as 2 microM DMAET and 0.8 microM DEAET were detected selectively at a low applied potential of 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl at a CNT-modified mediator-free amperometric electrode. Further, the large surface area and the hydrophobicity of CNT was used to immobilize organophosphorus hydrolase mutant with improved catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of the P-S bond of phosphothiolester neurotoxins including VX and R-VX nerve gases to develop a novel, mediator-free, membrane-free biosensor for V-type nerve agents. The applicability of the biosensor was demonstrated for direct, rapid, and selective detection of V-type nerve agents' mimic demeton-S. The selectivity of the sensor against interferences and application to spiked lake water samples was demonstrated.     

Prototype amperometric biosensor for sialic acid determination

This paper describes the first report on the development, characterization, and applications of a prototype amperometric biosensor for free sialic acid (SA). The sensor was constructed by the coimmobilization of two enzymes, i.e., N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase and pyruvate oxidase, on a polyester microporous membrane, which was then mounted on top of a platinum disk electrode. The SA biosensor operation was based on the sequential action of the two enzymes to ultimately produce hydrogen peroxide, which was then detected by anodic amperometry at the platinum electrode. The surface of the platinum electrode was coated with an electropolymeric layer to enhance the biosensor selectivity in the presence of interfering oxidizable species. Optimization of the enzyme layer composition resulted in a fast and steady current response in phosphate buffer pH 7.2 at 37 degrees C. The limit of detection was 10 microM, and the response was linear to 3.5 mM (r = 0.9987). The prepared SA biosensors retained approximately 85% of their initial sensitivity after 8 days and showed excellent response reproducibility (CV = 2.3%). Utilization of a third enzyme, sialidase, expanded the scope of the present SA biosensor to determine bound sialic acid as well. The merits of the described biosensor allowed its successful application in determining SA in biological and pharmaceutical samples. The obtained results indicated that the presented SA biosensor should be a useful bioanalytical tool in several biological and clinical applications such as screening of SA as a nonspecific tumor marker as well as monitoring of tumor therapy.     

Development of a method for total inorganic arsenic analysis using anodic stripping voltammetry and a Au-coated, diamond thin-film electrode

We demonstrate that a Au-coated, boron-doped, diamond thin-film electrode provides a sensitive, reproducible, and stable response for total inorganic arsenic (As(III) and As(V)) using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). As is preconcentrated with Au on the diamond surface during the deposition step and detected oxidatively during the stripping step. Au deposition was uniform over the electrode surface with a nominal particle size of 23 +/- 5 nm and a particle density of 109 cm-2. The electrode and method were used to measure the As(III) concentration in standard and river water samples. The detection figures of merit were compared with those obtained using conventional Au-coated glassy carbon and Au foil electrodes. The method was also used to determine the As(V) concentration in standard solutions after first being chemically reduced to As(III) with Na2SO3, followed by the normal DPASV determination of As(III). Sharp and symmetric stripping peaks were generally observed for the Au-coated diamond electrode. LODs were 0.005 ppb (S/N = 3) for As(III) and 0.08 ppb (S/N = 3) for As(V) in standard solutions. An As(III) concentration of 0.6 ppb was found in local river water. The relative standard deviation of the As stripping peak current for river water was 1.5% for 10 consecutive measurements and was less than 9.1% over a 10-h period. Excellent electrode response stability was observed even in the presence of up to 5 ppm of added humic acid. In summary, the Au-coated diamond electrode exhibited better performance for total inorganic As analysis than did Au-coated glassy carbon or Au foil electrodes. Clearly, the substrate on which the Au is supported influences the detection figures of merit.     

Biocatalytic carbon paste sensors based on a mediator pasting liquid

The preparation and advantages of a new generation of carbon paste enzyme electrodes where the redox mediator acts also as the pasting liquid are described. The mediator pasting liquid concept is illustrated for amperometric biosensing of glucose in connection with either the tert-pentylferrocene or n-butylferrocene mediator/binder along with the glucose oxidase enzyme. The attractive performance and advantages of the new device is indicated from comparison to a conventional carbon paste biosensor using a mineral oil binder and the dimethylferrocene electron acceptor. The simplified preparation of the biosensor is coupled with a greatly improved sensitivity and an extended linear range. The mediator pasting liquid imparts high thermal stability onto the embedded enzyme and leads to good resistance to oxygen effects. Owing to the huge mediator reservoir, stability problems associated with the leaching of the mediator are greatly reduced. The fundamental aspects of the electrode behavior have been examined first in the absence of the enzyme. Variables affecting the performance of the new carbon paste biosensor have been investigated and optimized. Such use of the electron acceptor as a binder as well as the mediator offers considerable promise for the biosensing of numerous analytes of clinical and environmental significance.     

DNA as a support for glucose oxidase immobilization at Prussian blue-modified glassy carbon electrode in biosensor preparation

An amperometric glucose biosensor has been developed using DNA as a matrix of Glucose oxidase (GOx) at Prussian-blue (PB)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. GC electrode was chemically modified by the PB. GOx was immobilized together with DNA at the working area of the PB-modified electrode by placing a drop of the mixture of DNA and GOx. The response of the biosensor for glucose was evaluated amperometrically. Upon immobilization of glucose oxidase with DNA, the biosensor showed rapid response toward the glucose. On the other hand, no significant response was obtained in the absence of DNA. Experimental conditions influencing the biosensor performance were optimized and assessed. This biosensor offered an excellent electrochemical response for glucose concentration in micro mol level with high sensitivity and selectivity and short response time. The levels of the relative standard deviation (RSDs), (<4%) for the entire analyses reflected a highly reproducible sensor performance. Through the use of optimized conditions, a linear relationship between current and glucose concentration was obtained up to 4 x 10(-4) M. In addition, this biosensor showed high reproducibility and stability.     

Reagentless mediated laccase electrode for the detection of enzyme modulators

We have investigated aerobic mediation of electron transfer to a laccase enzyme by the solution redox couples [Os(bpy)(2)Cl(2)](+/0) and [Os(bpy)(2)(MeIm)Cl](2+/+), where bpy is 2,2-bipyridine and MeIm is N-methylimidazole. The factors that influence the homogeneous mediation reaction are investigated and discussed. Investigation of ionic strength, pH, and temperature effects on the kinetics of intermolecular electron transfer elucidates the governing factors in the mediator-enzyme reactions. Coimmobilization of both enzyme and an osmium redox mediator in a hydrogel on glassy carbon electrodes results in a biosensor for the reagentless addressing of enzyme activity, consuming only oxygen present in solution. Thus, these immobilized enzyme biosensors can be utilized for the detection of modulators of laccase activity, such as the inhibitor sodium azide. The enzyme inhibition biosensor can detect levels of azide as low as 2.5 × 10(-6) mol dm(-3) in solution.     

Thionine covalently tethered to multilayer horseradish peroxidase in a self-assembled monolayer as an electron-transfer mediator

A new approach to construct a reagentless enzyme biosensor is described. Based on multilayer horseradish peroxidase in a self-assembled monolayer configuration, the biosensor was constructed using multilayer thionine covalently tethered to the enzyme as an electron-transfer mediator. The multilayer enzyme and the multilayer mediator were stepwisely synthesized onto an l-cysteine-assembled gold electrode using glutaraldehyde as a bifunctional reagent. The multilayer mediator tethered to the multilayer enzyme could effectively and stably shuttle electrons between the electrode and the multilayer enzyme linked onto the monolayer. The sensitivity of the resulting enzyme biosensor with eight layers of enzyme and three layers of mediator was more than 250 μA cm(-)(2) for 1.0 × 10(-)(4) mol/L hydrogen peroxide under optimal conditions, whereas such a modified electrode with one layer of enzyme and one layer of mediator did not yield a detectable response to 1.0 × 10(-)(4) mol/L hydrogen peroxide.     

Solid-phase extraction of pesticides from water: possible interferences from dissolved organic material

A multiresidue analysis for trifluralin, simazine, atrazine, propazine, diazinon, parathion-methyl, alachlor, malathion, parathion, chlorpyrifos, pendimethalin, methidathion, and DEF in water that utilizes liquid-solid extraction (LSE) with octadecyl-bonded silica cartridges (C18BSCs) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis was developed. Recoveries of most pesticides were greater than 80% with C18BSCs from fortified water at concentration levels from about 1 to 500 ppb. Recoveries with C18BSCs, from an optically adjusted humic acid solution (10 ppm dissolved organic carbon) made to simulate a natural water with a high dissolved organic content, ranged from 29 to 153% and in general were lower than recoveries obtained from pure water. 14C-Labeled diazinon and parathion were recovered from the humic acid solution at levels of 57 and 68%, respectively, with C18BSCs; the remainder of the labeled pesticides was found in the cartridge eluents. Partition coefficients with human acid were calculated based on recovery of 14C-labeled pesticides from the C18BSCs.     

Carbon paste biosensor for phenol detection of impregnated tissue: modification of selectivity by using β-cyclodextrin-containing PVA membrane

In order to detect and quantify with a biosensor the phenol contents in animal tissue (salmon flesh) by simple contact, we have undertaken experimental study on nonwoven cellulose fibers soaked with phenolic compounds. An electrochemical biosensor made of carbon paste and tyrosinase mixed together with electropolymerized pyrrole was elaborated. Phenol detection was realized by electrochemical reduction of quinones produced by the tyrosinase activity. The biosensor was first optimized based on enzyme loading and nature of the carbon paste. A semipermeable membrane containing cyclodextrin moieties was deposited on the biosensor in order to test its sensitivity for phenol detection. Finally, the biosensor was put in contact with phenol absorbing cellulose fibers. Results showed that the relaxation time response of the sensor was relevant of phenol concentration.