An Improved Urea Specific Enzyme Electrode

Abstract

The enzyme urease was immobilized in a layer of acrylamide polymer on the surface of a Beckman cationic electrode sensitive to ammonium ion. The substrate urea diffuses to the enzyme electrode and reacts with the immobilized enzyme to produce ammonium ion at the surface of the glass electrode. By placing a thin film of cellophane around the enzyme gel layer to prevent leaching of urease into the surrounding solution, an electrode could be used continuously for over 21 days at 25[ddot]C with no loss of activity.