Fast detection of high molecular weight substances in wastewater based on an enzymatic hydrolysis combined with the Arxula BOD sensor system

A microbial amperometric sensor based on the yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3 was tested for its suitability to measure the biochemical oxygen demand incurred by the use of high molecular weight substances, such as starch, cellulose and milk powder. As with other sensors, the untreated samples varied strongly from the corresponding BOD 5 . Digestion of macromolecules with α-amylase, cellulase and protease for 30min at 37°C resulted in sensor BOD values which correlated better with BOD 5 values when corrected for the enzyme blank signal.