Nitrate Biosensor for Agricultural Applications - THE NITRATE ELIMINATION COMPANY, INC.

Project Director
Campbell, W. H.

Recipient Organization
THE NITRATE ELIMINATION COMPANY, INC.
334 HECLA STREET
LAKE LINDEN,MI 49945

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
A nitrate biosensor based on the enzyme nitrate reductase will be formulated for agricultural applications. The nitrate biosensor will be used to analyze nitrate standards for calibration and nitrate content of real world samples extracted from plants and soils. The resulting data will demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a prototype nitrate biosensor for application in agriculture in Phase II. This device will assist farmers and agricultural consultants with nutrient management by providing rapid field analysis.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0110	2000	50%
102	0210	2000	50%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources; 0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
2000 - Chemistry;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
Develop screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for nitrate biosensor based on NECi Superior Stock Nitrate Reductase (YNaR1) using methyl viologen as electron carrier. Optimize formulation of SPCE-YNaR1 by varying enzyme drying method, selecting most effective and safe electrode-carrying dye, and establishing an effective sample reagent pack with buffer system containing sulfite for eliminating oxygen interference. Analyze performance of optimum SPCE-YNaR1 formulation to demonstrate feasibility of system as an electrode for the prototype nitrate biosensor using certified nitrate standards and real world samples extracted from plant tissues and soils.

Project Methods
Screen-printed carbon electrode will be purchased and nitrate reductase will be immobilized on the electrode with an electron-carrying dye by a drying process. The enzyme-electrode will be interfaced to an electrochemical analyzer coupled to a computer. After the performance is optimized, nitrate standards and real world samples extracted from plant tissues and soils will be analyzed for nitrate content. These analyses will establish the feasibility of the nitrate reductase nitrate biosensor.

Progress 05/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
A nitrate biosensor based on the enzyme nitrate reductase was formulated for agricultural applications. Screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for nitrate biosensor with NECi Superior Stock Nitrate Reductases (YNaR1 & AtNaR2) and using methyl viologen as electron carrier were developed. Formulation of SPCE-YNaR1 was done by varying enzyme drying method, selecting most effective and safe electrode-carrying dye, and establishing an effective sample reagent pack with buffer system containing sulfite for eliminating oxygen interference. The nitrate biosensor was used to analyze nitrate standards for calibration and nitrate content of real world samples extracted from corn leaves and soils. The resulting data demonstrated the feasibility of constructing a prototype nitrate biosensor for application in agriculture in Phase II. This device will assist farmers and agricultural consultants with nutrient management by providing rapid field analysis.

Impacts
The impact on agriculture is expected to be by making it easier for farmers to evaluate nitrate content of plants and soils in the field with ease and very low cost per sample. This approach will make it simpler for farmers and agricultural consultants to determine the nitrogen fertilizer needs for agricultural fields.

Publications

No publications reported this period