The use of immobilized alcohol oxidase in the continuous flow determination of ethanol with an oxygen electrode

Immobilized alcohol oxidase was used in the determination of blood alcohol. The alcohol oxidase catalyzed the aerobic oxidation of ethanol and the oxygen concentration was monitored with an oxygen membrane electrode in a flow cell. The enzyme was immobilized either by covalent attachment via glutaraldehyde to the inside walls of nylon tubing, or by adsorption onto three separate controlled-pore glass support materials: TiO₂, SiO₂, or AL₂O₃. The supports were packed into 10 cm lengths of 3 mm i.d. glass tubing or 30 cm lengths of 5 mm i.d. nylon tubing. The five methods of immobilization were compared for stability and activity toward ethanol. Immobilization on silanized glass beads results in the highest activity and greatest stability of the reactor.