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NECi's Nitrate Biosensor |
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Electronic Nitrate Detector based on Nitrate Reductase |
The Nitrate Elimination Co., Inc. (NECi) is developing an electronic device to detect nitrate using the enzyme nitrate reductase as the functional unit of the device. The underlying concept of the Nitrate Biosensor is the ability of Nitrate Reductase to directly use electricity to drive the catalytic reduction of nitrate to nitrite. |
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The Nitrate Elimination Co., Inc. |
| Revised and Updated: 12/17/2008 1.888.NITRATE www.nitrate.com |
This concept has been proven in the EzNET™ System also under development at NECi. In the Nitrate Biosensor, very small amounts of the enzyme (NaR) are coupled to an electrode providing direct current for the reduction of tiny amounts of nitrate to nitrite. A digital display will report the amounts of nitrate in the water based on the current flowing in the device. |
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The 1st generation NECi NaR-based Nitrate Biosensor
was described in an article published in Analytical Chemistry as a joint paper by
Scott A. Glazier (NIST) and Ellen R. Campbell and Wilbur H. Campbell (NECi). Title: Construction and Characterization of Nitrate Reductase-Based
Amperometric Electrode and Nitrate Assay of Fertilizers. Citation: Analytical
Chemistry Vol 70, No. 6, Pages 1511-1515, 1998. This publication resulted from the
CRADA between Biomolecular Materials Group, Biotechnology Division, National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD 20899, and The Nitrate Elimination Co.,
Inc. (NECi). NIST is an agency of the Department of Commerce (DOC). If you
wish to receive a copy of this publication, please send an email to:
info@nitrate.com |
Enzymes similar to NaR such as nitrite reductase (NiR) and nitrous oxide reductase (NoR) are expected to function in the Biosensor device in a similar manner. These enzyme-based biosensors will be useful for detecting nitrite in water and food preparations and nitrous oxide (a toxic gas) in air. |
