The mitochondria from beef heart as biosensors for the selective monitoring of phenols

We propose a simple and rapid procedure which allows for the selective monitoring in solution of toxic compounds which behave as uncouplers of the oxidative phosphorylation. Since all phenols, are uncouplers of the oxidative phosphorylation, the procedure allows for the selective monitoring in solution of phenols even in presence of other toxic compounds. The biological sensor are the mitochondria from beef heart. This biosensor is easily available without a stabular and therefore the biosensor and the whole procedure is very simple and not expensive. By linear regression analysis, it results that the procedure well predicts the response of the standard fish method to phenols. Therefore the procedure can be utilized as prescreening analysis for the monitoring the phenols in aqueous samples.