Determination of kinetic parameters for the inhibitory effects of organic sulphides on an amperometric peroxide biosensor in non-aqueous media.

The amperometric detection of some organic sulphides in non-aqueous media using a horseradish peroxidase modified platinum electrode is reported. The performance of the electrode is based on the inhibitory effect of sulphides on the activity of peroxidase. The electrode responds rapidly to micromolar concentrations of the sulphides with linearities extending up to 0.4, 0.25 and 0.8 mmol/dm(3) for thiourea, ethylenethiourea, and mercaptoethanol, respectively. The current as peroxide concentration approaches infinity in the absence of any inhibitor (I(max)), and the apparent inhibition constant (K'(i)) for each inhibitor were evaluated. I(max)/K'(i), i.e. the percentage inhibition of sensor response per millimolar of each inhibitor, was calculated and used as a measure of the performance of the sensor in the determination of the organic sulphides. From these values the sensitivity trend of the biosensor for the organic sulphides is ethylenethiourea > thiourea > mercaptoethanol. The kinetic effects of other operational parameters such as mediator concentration, water content of the solvent and working potential were also evaluated to assess analytical performance.