Preparation, performance, and application of a stable, sensitive and cost-effective microelectrode array.

The development of rapid toxicity detection technology has higher requirements for electrode. In this work, a stable, sensitive and cost-effective microelectrode array (MEA) was successfully prepared manually. The advantage of the as-prepared MEA was discussed by means of detecting toxicity of 3,5-Dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP) by contrasting with bulk electrode and single microelectrode, in which mixed microorganisms were selected as biocatalyst, and K3[Fe(CN)6] was adopted as electron mediator. The current reached a stable state in 10 s under the constant potential of 450 mV. The feasibility of rapid detection of toxicity of formaldehyde with the MEA was further verified. The current responses were analyzed over formaldehyde of the final concentrations varied from 0.0036% to 1.0%, and the traditional parameter of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.11% was obtained within 1 h. In brief, the as-prepared MEA has high sensitivity, good stability, strong anti-interference, and well corrosion resistance. It shows a very large application prospects in toxicity detection in water.