Assessment of glucose oxidase behaviour in alcoholic solutions using disposable electrodes

Solvent resistant screen-printed three-electrode devices were employed to assess the behaviour of free and immobilised glucose oxidase in water-miscible organic solvent/aqueous buffer mixtures. Three alcoholic solvents were examined, methanol, ethanol and isopropanol. A rhodinised-carbon electrocatalyst was employed to facilitate hydrogen peroxide oxidation at a decreased operating potential. The devices had a linear response range of 1-10 mU GOX and allowed detection of down to 2 x 10(-14) mol GOX. The measurement of 0-1 (v/v) glucose in 30% (v/v) ethanol was achieved in 2 min using these highly storage-stable enzyme electrodes. Such devices are likely to have widespread applications in the diagnostic and on-line monitoring fields where rapid analysis in alcoholic matrices is desirable. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.