Acquisition and processing of data from a multiple pH-stat system monitoring enzyme kinetics (urea-urease)

Abstract

A complete data acquisition and processing system is described for the study of enzyme kinetics using multiple pH-stat units. The system is based on a digital data logger linked to individual autotitrators and generates a computer compatible record of titrimetric data. The system can be used to follow any reaction in which hydrogen ions are either produced or consumed.

An external module has been developed that causes an operating autotitrator to activate the logger to perform a continuous scan until all autotitrators return to the passive mode. The operating time, the real time and the channel identification are recorded when any autotitrator executes a pH correction. The raw data generated by the logger are manipulated by computational algorithms, which identify the operative titrators and produce computer amenable data on accumulative volumes of titrant added as a function of elapsed time. The data logger-pH-stat system was used in conjunction with the urea-urease reaction and the derived data were processed by numerical methods to yield the characteristic parameters associated with enzymic reactions.