Time-resolved absorption as optical method for herbicide detection

A new sensing system for the detection of photosynthetic herbicides in water has been developed, based on the use of a trans-membrane protein complex, the reaction centre (RC) isolated from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The stationary and excited state of this protein are characterised by different absor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 90; no. 1; pp. 198 - 203
Main Authors Baldini, F., Domenici, C., Giannetti, A., Masci, D., Mencaglia, A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 20.04.2003
Subjects
Absorption
Biosensors
Herbicides
Optical method
Reaction centre
Time
Optical method
Herbicides
Time
Absorption
Reaction centre
Biosensors
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Summary:A new sensing system for the detection of photosynthetic herbicides in water has been developed, based on the use of a trans-membrane protein complex, the reaction centre (RC) isolated from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The stationary and excited state of this protein are characterised by different absorption properties. The path followed by the protein to return to the stationary state is influenced by the presence of photosynthetic herbicides. Therefore the concentration of herbicides could be measured by monitoring the temporal changes of absorption following optical excitation. For this purpose, an optoelectronic system has been realised. It makes use of a 860 nm light emitting diode and a hybrid photodetector and is coupled to a 5 cm-long optical cell containing the RC solution through optical fibres. The system was tested with atrazine and a limit of detection of 10 nM was obtained.
ISSN:0925-4005
1873-3077
DOI:10.1016/S0925-4005(03)00028-5