Bio-assays are increasingly used in supplement to classical analyses to determine the effect of contamination of waters with herbicides, some of which have been shown to be able to determine herbicides within the limits in compliance with EC-ordonance for drinking water. Preliminary work carried out at the University of Bonn has demonstrated that contamination of different water systems can be identified using inhibition of the light dependent production of oxygen by chloroplasts. Further experiments at IRMM have shown a potential to transfer membrane systems of chloroplasts into stable powder that can be used to carry out such bio-assays. Results: A method has been developed tor the isolation and breakage ot chloroplasts that allow freeze drying of the thylakoid membranes. The photosynthetic activity of the lyophilized material was maintained to 86 - 95 per cent. This powder can be stored for over five month without loss of activity.