Self-powered herbicide biosensor utilizing thylakoid membranes

Abstract

A self-powered biosensor has been developed for the detection of herbicides in water. It consists of a bio-solar cell incorporating thylakoid membranes at the bioanode for direct photoelectrocatalysis with an air-breathing platinum cathode. The biosolar cell produces power in the presence of light, but inhibition of photosystems of the thylakoids by herbicides leads to a decrease in current output. This current decrease can be used to determine herbicide concentration. This sensor was able to detect several commercial herbicides, including: atrazine, bromacil, and diuron with a linear response up to concentrations of ∼15 μg L⁻¹ and limits of detection (LOD) below 0.5 μg L⁻¹, which are below the EPA limits.