Phase separated enzyme inhibitor electrode for mercury compounds

MERCURY IS A HIGHLY TOXIC MATERIAL THAT OCCURS IN BOTH ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FORMS. BECAUSE OF ITS WIDESPREAD INDUSTRIAL USE THE WHOLE POPULATION IS EXPOSED TO MERCURY COMPOUNDS EVERYDAY. THERE IS A NEED FOR A FAST, EASY TO USE, INEXPENSIVE, SENSITIVE METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF MERCURY TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR THE SELECTIVE DETECTION OF LOW LEVELS OF ORGANIC MERCURY. WE WILL DEVELOP A PORTABLE DEVICE, BASED ON THE ENZYME INHIBITION BY MERCURY AND THE PHASE SEPARATION OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MERCURY, FOR THE SELECTIVE DETERMINATION OF MERCURY, EITHER IN ITS ORGANIC OR INORGANIC FORM, OR IN TOTAL. THE EXPECTED RESULT IS A SENSOR THAT DEMONSTRATES THE FEASIBILITY OF SELECTIVELY DETECTING TRACE AMOUNTS OF TOXIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS (ESPECIALLY THE MOST TOXIC ONE, METHYLMERCURY) WITH EASY TO USE, DISPOSABLE ENZYME ELECTRODES. THE THREE RESEARCHERS SUBMITTING THIS PROPOSAL HAVE COLLABORATED SUCCESSFULLY TO DEVELOP ENZYME-BASED SENSOR TECHNOLOGY WHICH WILL BE A CRUCIAL COMPONENT FOR THIS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. PRACTICAL PHASE SEPARATED ENZYME INHIBITOR ELECTRODES WILL HAVE GREAT COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE MONITORING OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR TRACE AMOUNTS OF TOXIC METALS.