{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T10:37:40Z","timestamp":1778755060092,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,8,3]],"date-time":"2020-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1596412800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"The Poul Due Jensen Foundation","award":["1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Inorganic ions that can be redox-transformed by living cells can be sensed by biosensors, where the redox transformation gives rise to a current in a measuring circuit. Such biosensors may be based on enzymes, or they may be based on application of whole cells. In this review focus will be on biosensors for the environmentally important ions NO3\u2212, NO2\u2212, and SO42\u2212, and for comparison alternative sensor-based detection will also be mentioned. The developed biosensors are generally characterized by a high degree of specificity, but unfortunately also by relatively short lifetimes. There are several investigations where biosensor measurement of NO3\u2212 and NO2\u2212 have given new insight into the functioning of nitrogen transformations in man-made and natural environments such as sediments and biofilms, but the biosensors have not become routine tools. Future modifications resulting in better long-term stability may enable such general use.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s20154326","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,8,4]],"date-time":"2020-08-04T05:56:46Z","timestamp":1596520606000},"page":"4326","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":22,"title":["Ion Selective Amperometric Biosensors for Environmental Analysis of Nitrate, Nitrite and Sulfate"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2193-262X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Niels Peter","family":"Revsbech","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114-116, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Nielsen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sensor Productions, Unisense A\/S, Tueager 1, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Deby","family":"Fapyane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114-116, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6834","DOI":"10.1039\/C9AN01437C","article-title":"Addressing the practicalities of anodic stripping voltammetry for heavy metal detection: A tutorial review","volume":"144","author":"Borrill","year":"2019","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2110","DOI":"10.1002\/elan.200703926","article-title":"Use of voltammetry to monitor O-2 using Au\/Hg electrodes and to control physical sensors on an unattended observatory in the Delaware bay","volume":"19","author":"Moore","year":"2007","journal-title":"Electroanalysis"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"206","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trac.2018.11.003","article-title":"Novel frontiers in voltammetric trace metal analysis: Towards real time, on-site, in situ measurements","volume":"111","author":"Holmes","year":"2019","journal-title":"Trend. Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"De Beer, D. (2000). Potentiometric microsensors for in situ measurements-in-aquatic environments. Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems: Chemical Analysis and Speciation, John Wiley & Sons."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"837","DOI":"10.1039\/C7EN01160A","article-title":"Rapid detection of nutrients with electronic sensors: A review","volume":"5","author":"Chen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Nano."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4694","DOI":"10.1021\/ac991212l","article-title":"Potentiometric evaluation of solvent polymeric carbonate-selective membranes based on molecular tweezer-type neutral carriers","volume":"72","author":"Lee","year":"2000","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1040","DOI":"10.1016\/j.microc.2019.104045","article-title":"Anion selective electrodes: A brief compilation","volume":"149","author":"Suman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Microchem. J."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eti.2017.04.003","article-title":"Development of a whole cell biosensor for the detection of inorganic mercury","volume":"8","author":"Mahbub","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Technol. Innov."},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"867","article-title":"Genetically engineered microbial biosensors for in situ monitoring of environmental pollution","volume":"89","author":"Shin","year":"2011","journal-title":"Appl. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1332","DOI":"10.1021\/ac303534v","article-title":"Non-Severinghaus potentiometric dissolved CO2 sensor with improved characteristics","volume":"85","author":"Xie","year":"2013","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2018.12.038","article-title":"Amperometic microsensor for measurement of gaseous and dissolved CO2","volume":"283","author":"Revsbech","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4351","DOI":"10.1021\/ac960091b","article-title":"An amperometric microsensor for the determination of H2S in aquatic environments","volume":"68","author":"Jeroschewski","year":"1996","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01093762","article-title":"Electroreduction of nitrate ions in concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions at lead, zinc, nickel and phthalocyanine-modified electrodes","volume":"18","author":"Li","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Appl. Electrochem."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3127","DOI":"10.1080\/00032719.2000.10399490","article-title":"Enhanced electrochemical detection of nitrite and nitrite at a Cu-30Ni alloy electrode","volume":"33","author":"Moorcroft","year":"2000","journal-title":"Anal. Lett."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1016\/S0003-2670(99)00724-2","article-title":"Sonoelectrochemically enhanced nitrite detection","volume":"404","author":"Davis","year":"2000","journal-title":"Anal. Chim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-0728(99)00210-7","article-title":"Electroreduction of nitrate ion to nitrite and ammonia on a gold electrode in acidic and basic sodium and cesium nitrate solutions","volume":"470","author":"Ohmori","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Electroanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1077","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01029588","article-title":"Electrochemical reduction of nitrogen oxyanions in 1 M sodium hydroxide solutions at silver, copper and CuInSe2 electrodes","volume":"22","author":"Cattarin","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Appl. Electrochem."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1080\/00032719908542596","article-title":"Amperometric detection with microelectrodes in FIA: Studies on the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in human saliva","volume":"32","author":"Mori","year":"1999","journal-title":"Anal. Lett."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"785","DOI":"10.1016\/S0039-9140(01)00323-X","article-title":"Detection and determination of nitrate and nitrite: A review","volume":"54","author":"Moorcroft","year":"2001","journal-title":"Talanta"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1016\/j.talanta.2016.12.044","article-title":"Methods for the detection and determination of nitrite and nitrate: A review","volume":"165","author":"Wang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Talanta"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-0728(99)00302-2","article-title":"Amperometric nitrate biosensors on the basis of Pseudomonas stutzeri nitrate reductase","volume":"474","author":"Kirstein","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Electroanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2013.01.052","article-title":"Amperometric sensing of nitrite based on electroactive ferricyanide\u2013poly (diallyldimethylammonium)\u2013alginate composite film","volume":"181","author":"Qin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2013.02.041","article-title":"An amperometric sensor based on ionic liquid and carbon nanotube modified composite electrode for the determination of nitrite in milk","volume":"181","author":"Zhou","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3198","DOI":"10.1021\/ac00091a032","article-title":"Amperometric detection of nitrate via a nitrate reductase immobilized and electrically wired at the electrode surface","volume":"66","author":"Cosnier","year":"1994","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2163","DOI":"10.1021\/ac970798d","article-title":"Nitrate biosensor based on the ultrathin-film composite membrane concept","volume":"70","author":"Moretto","year":"1998","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2004.04.068","article-title":"Improvement of biosensor performances for nitrate determination using a new hydrophilic poly (pyrrole-viologen) film","volume":"103","author":"Shan","year":"2004","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2141","DOI":"10.1021\/ac2020883","article-title":"Enzyme-catalyzed O2 removal system for electrochemical analysis under ambient air: Application in an amperometric nitrate biosensor","volume":"84","author":"Henig","year":"2012","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4467","DOI":"10.1021\/ac050198b","article-title":"Electrochemical determination of nitrate with nitrate reductase-immobilized electrodes under ambient air","volume":"77","author":"Quan","year":"2005","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1706","DOI":"10.2166\/wst.2018.052","article-title":"In situ continuous monitoring of nitrogen with ion-selective electrodes in a constructed wetland receiving treated wastewater: An operating protocol to obtain reliable data","volume":"77","author":"Papias","year":"2018","journal-title":"Water Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"852","DOI":"10.1002\/hyp.13640","article-title":"Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high-temporal monitoring","volume":"34","author":"Ledford","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hydrol. Process."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"612","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.71.3.612","article-title":"Siroheme: A new prosthetic group participating in six-electron reduction reactions catalyzed by both sulfite and nitrite reductases","volume":"71","author":"Murphy","year":"1974","journal-title":"P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S0956-5663(97)00100-0","article-title":"Application of nitrite reductase from Alcaligenes faecalis S-6 for nitrite measurement","volume":"13","author":"Sasaki","year":"1998","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bioelechem.2006.03.030","article-title":"Electrochemical characterization of biosensor based on nitrite reductase and methyl viologen co-immobilized glassy carbon electrode","volume":"69","author":"Quan","year":"2006","journal-title":"Bioelectrochemistry"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1021\/ac950692n","article-title":"A nitrite sensor based on a highly sensitive nitrite reductase mediator-coupled amperometric detection","volume":"68","author":"Strehlitz","year":"1996","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2026","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2010.01.031","article-title":"An efficient non-mediated amperometric biosensor for nitrite determination","volume":"25","author":"Silveira","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectrons."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2016.07.073","article-title":"A novel nitrite biosensor based on the direct electrochemistry of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on porous Co3O4 nanosheets and reduced graphene oxide composite modified electrode","volume":"238","author":"Liu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1007\/s00604-008-0053-y","article-title":"A reagentless nitrite biosensor based on direct electron transfer of hemoglobin on a room temperature ionic liquid\/carbon nanotube-modified electrode","volume":"164","author":"Wei","year":"2009","journal-title":"Microchim. Act."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2013.08.007","article-title":"Nitrite electrochemical biosensing based on coupled graphene and gold nanoparticles","volume":"51","author":"Jiang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectrons."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelechem.2010.03.025","article-title":"A biosensor based on cytochrome c immobilization on a poly-3-methylthiophene\/multi-walled carbon nanotubes hybrid-modified electrode. Application to the electrochemical determination of nitrite","volume":"644","author":"Eguilaz","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Electroanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2009.04.032","article-title":"Amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide and nitrite based on hemoglobin immobilized on one-dimensional gold nanoparticle","volume":"140","author":"Hong","year":"2009","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3527","DOI":"10.1021\/ac9700890","article-title":"A microscale NO3\u2212biosensor for environmental applications","volume":"69","author":"Larsen","year":"1997","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6551","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.70.11.6551-6558.2004","article-title":"Bacterium-based NO2\u2212 biosensor for environmental applications","volume":"70","author":"Nielsen","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"761","DOI":"10.4319\/lom.2009.7.761","article-title":"Biosensor for laboratory and lander-based analysis of benthic nitrate plus nitrite distribution in marine environments","volume":"7","author":"Revsbech","year":"2009","journal-title":"Limnol. Oceanogr.-Meth."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3705","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.02612-08","article-title":"Distribution and rate of microbial processes in an ammonia-loaded air filter biofilm","volume":"75","author":"Juhler","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/S0925-4005(01)00924-8","article-title":"An oxygen insensitive microsensor for nitrous oxide","volume":"81","author":"Andersen","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.2166\/wst.2002.0554","article-title":"On-line determination of nitrite in wastewater treatment by use of a biosensor","volume":"45","author":"Nielsen","year":"2002","journal-title":"Water Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.2166\/wst.2004.0680","article-title":"A nitrate biosensor based methodology for monitoring anoxic activated sludge activity","volume":"50","author":"Sin","year":"2004","journal-title":"Water Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.4319\/lom.2005.3.86","article-title":"Construction and characterization of a cyanobacterial bioreporter capable of assessing nitrate assimilatory capacity in freshwaters","volume":"3","author":"Ivanikova","year":"2005","journal-title":"Limnol. Oceanogr.-Meth."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.3354\/ame01275","article-title":"Nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide transformations in sediments along a salinity gradient in the Weser Estuary","volume":"55","author":"Nielsen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Aquat. Microb. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/S0003-2670(99)00231-7","article-title":"Sensitivity control of ion-selective biosensors by electrophoretically mediated analyte transport","volume":"391","author":"Larsen","year":"1999","journal-title":"Anal. Chim. Acta."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2014.05.088","article-title":"Electrophoretic sensitivity control applied on microscale NOx\u2212 biosensors with different membrane permeabilities","volume":"202","author":"Marzocchi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2614","DOI":"10.1021\/ac203260e","article-title":"Impedimetric and potentiometric investigation of a sulfate anion-selective elec-trode: Experiment and simulation","volume":"84","author":"Bagherzadeh","year":"2012","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/20\/15\/4326\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T09:54:02Z","timestamp":1760176442000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/20\/15\/4326"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,8,3]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"15","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,8]]}},"alternative-id":["s20154326"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s20154326","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,8,3]]}}}