On-line monitoring of Glucose and penicillin by sequential injection analysis

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) system has been developed for on-line monitoring of glucose and penicillin during cultivations of the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. The SIA system consists of a peristaltic pump, an injection valve, two piston pumps, two multi-position valves and a detector.

The glucose analyzer is based on an enzymatic reaction using glucose oxidase, which converts glucose to glucono-lactone with formation of hydrogen peroxide and subsequent detection of H2O2 by a chemiluminescence reaction involving luminol. The penicillin analysis is based on formation of penicilloic acid by penicillinase.

Penicilloic acid is detected either by a chemiluminescence method or by a decolorization method. In the chemiluminescence method the penicilloic acid is quantified by its quenching effect on the chemiluminescence signal obtained when luminol reacts with iodine. In the decolorization method the penicilloic acid is detected spectrophotometrically by the decrease in the absorbance of an iodine-starch complex.