An on-line flow-injection analysis system for the determination of acetate

A flow-injection system for the determination of acetate is described. The method is based on the oxidation of sarcosine by immobilized sarcosine oxidase. This enzymatic reaction is competitively inhibited by acetate and the extent of the inhibition serves to calculate the acetate concentration. The effect of pH, temperature and sarcosine concentration are investigated and discussed. As an example of application, a fermentation process of E. coli was monitored with the developed system.