Carmela Negulescu *, A. Ciucu **, C. Ciucu ***, V. Magearu ****
* Biochimist drd.Carmela Negulescu, Wyeth Whitehall, București
** Prof. dr. Anton Ciucu, Catedra de Chimie Analitică, Facultatea de Chimie, Universitatea din București
*** Cristian Ciucu, Facultatea de Fizică, Universitatea din București
**** Vasile Magearu, Facultatea de Chimie, Universitatea din București
Abstract
A bioelectrochemical method for the determination of heavy metal ions has been developed. This method is based on the inhibition effect of metal ions on the enzymatic activity of oxidase enzymes. The enzymatic activity was determined with an amperometric hydrogen peroxide probe. The inhibition effect on enzymes in solution and covalently immobilized on polymeric supports has been evaluated. Hg(II) was the metal ion that inhibited almost all the enzymes, particularly glycerol-3-P oxidase. Hg(II) was detected in the 0.05/0.5 ppm range with the enzyme in solution. Calibration curves for Hg(II) were also obtained with the other oxidase enzymes in the 0.5/10 ppm range. The other metal ions tested inhibited the enzymes more specifically.