In this work, a new optical screening method for acrylamide was developed. Bacterial Bacillus sp. strain ZK 34 was used to
hydrolyse acrylamide to the corresponding acid and ammonia. Nessler’s reagent was used to detect the produced ammonia
and the yellow complex formed was treated as signal. Bacterial pellet was immobilised in the alginate membrane. The
optimum composition of alginate used is 2%. The mass ratio of alginate:bacterial of 1:0.5 gave the optimum respond.
Optimum concentration for NaOH and Nessler’s reagent were 0.075 M and 2.5 mM, respectively. The yellow complex
of mercury (II) amido-iodine formed was directly proportional to the concentrations of acrylamide up to 50.00 ppm
with the limit of detection of 1.30 ppm. This sensor shows a good reproducibility which the relatives standard deviation
(RSD) values from 3.17-6.15%. Therefore, the detection of acrylamide based on the amidase hydrolysis is suitable for
screening this carcinogen compound.