Spectrophotometric measurement automatization for the analysis of enzymatic processes

Sammanfattning: This thesis work consisted of the development of a virtual instrument that automates enzyme activity measurements and spectrum measurements with the spectrophotometer UVmini-1240. The purpose was to expand the functionality of the instrument, to eliminate the human error and to decrease the amount of time spent on measurements. A PC was connected to the UVmini-1240 via a RS-232C interface and the cell position and temperature was regulated with a CPS-240A controller. The new interface allows all the parameters to be set in the same place. It allows a visualization of the continuous monitoring of the sample absorbance and the option to save the data for post-processing. Also a module for measuring the spectrum of a sample in the wavelength range of 190 nm to 1100 nm is included. The graphical programming language LabView was used to develop the virtual instrument. This thesis work also contained measurement series of the catalase enzyme activity. These were carried out to determine the best storage temperature for the catalase solution and to determine the optimal surrounding temperature for the highest activity in the catalase solution. The conclusions were that the activity does not change considerably the first week of storage, not matter the temperature, and that the activity goes down when the surrounding temperature reaches above 30° C. These measurements were part of a bigger project to develop an ultrasonic method for measuring enzyme activity at the Institute of Acoustics at C.S.I.C in Madrid.