[Remarks on ethanol oxidation by an "Acetobacter xylinum" microbial electrode (author's transl)].

A "microbial electrode" for ethanol assay has been designed using combination of an oxygen probe and cellulosic pellicle of Acetobacter xylinum. Assay is feasible with an ethanol concentration below 0.4 mM on a pH range of 2,5-7. The formation of acetic acid leds to a competitive inhibition of ethanol oxidation as observed with free cells. Pellicle stability at room temperature is good over a ten hours period. At 4 degrees C, film preservation is quite satisfactory over a ten days storage period. The author compares the ethanol oxidation kinetics observed, using both cellulosic pellicles and free cells of A. xylinum.