Potentiometric electronic tongue-flow injection analysis system for the monitoring of heavy metal biosorption processes

► Development of an automated FIP system with ET detection for the monitoring of Cu2+ bisorption process. ► Accurate characterization of ion exchange process in fixed-bed column by breakthrough curves. ► Successful simultaneous determination and real-time monitoring of Cu2+ (sorbed) and Ca2+ (released). ► ET takes profit of cross-selectivity and compensates the effect of interferences on the electrode response. ► ET based on a sensor array reports more accurate results when compared to the individual ISEs.