In-field monitoring of cleaning efficiency in waste water treatment plants using two phenol-sensitive biosensors

Two amperometric biosensors based on the enzymes cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) and quinoprotein-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), have been applied for monitoring the phenolic content in water samples, collected at different stages of a waste water treatment process, thus representing different cleaning levels of two waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). The biosensor measurements were performed in-field, compared with the results obtained by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and were further correlated with the cleaning efficiencies of the WWTPs. The effect of several potentially interfering compounds on the sensor response was also studied.The general purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential use of biosensors, not as quantitative tools for phenol analysis, but rather as screening tools indicating a certain trend, i.e. compounds present or not present, and potential correlation with sample toxicity. It was found that the biosensors and LC-MS results were not quantitatively comparable, however, both sensors could follow the decrease of the phenol content from the influent, primary treated and effluent waters. In addition, the correlation between biosensor inhibition and sample toxicity is discussed.