Sequential injection spectrophotometric determination of nanomolar nitrite in seawater by on-line preconcentration with HLB cartridge

The unstable state of nitrite results in its very low concentration in seawater,which is below the limit of detection(LOD) of conventional techniques of analysis. Some sensitivity-enhanced methods have been proposed for the determination of nitrite at nanomolar level to illustrate the role of nitrite in the marine nitrogen cycle. However,most of previous reports are not widely accepted,because of their complexity and cost equipment or intensive labor requirement. In this study,a simple automatic system for the determination of nanomolar level nitrite using on-line preconcentration with spectrophotometric detection was described. An Oasis HLB cartridge was adopted to quantitatively enrich the pink-colored azo compound,formed from nitrite via Griess reaction. The cartridge was rinsed with water and ethanol(volume fraction is 55%,the same below) ,in turn,then eluted by an eluent containing 50% ethanol and 0.25 M(mol/dm 3 ) H 2 SO 4,and determined at 543 nm with a 2 cm path-length flow cell. Under the optimized experimental conditions,the calibration curve showed a good linearity in the range of 1.4-85.7 nM,and the LOD(3σ) was estimated to be 0.5 nM. The relative standard deviations of 7 measurements were 4.0% and 1.0% for the samples spiked at 7.1 and 28.6 nM,respectively. The recoveries for the different natural water samples were between 92.2%-108.4%. Each HLB cartridge could be reused for at least 50 times. As compared with other SPE methods,the advantages of this method included the free of interference from salinity variation and less sample consuming. The results of the application of the proposed method to natural water showed good agreement with liquid waveguide capillary cell detection method.     

A solvent extraction method for the colorimetric determination of nanomolar concentrations of silicic acid in seawater

A solvent extraction method for measuring nanomolar concentrations of silicic acid in seawater is described. The procedure is based on the formation of beta silicomolybdic acid by reaction of silicic and molybdic acids at low pH, extraction of the combined acid into n-butanol and reduction with a mixture of p-methylaminophenol sulfate and sulfite. The concentration of the resulting blue silicomolybdous acid in the extract is determined colorimetrically. The method has 30 times the sensitivity and 14 times the precision of standard aqueous analyses. Molar absorbance is 2.29 × 10⁵ in seawater with a precision of ± 2.5 nM Si for concentrations <- 50 nanomolar. Sensitivity in seawater is 70% of that in deionized distilled water owing to a significant salt effect. Natural concentrations of arsenate, arsenite and germanic acid cause negligible interference; however, phosphate interference is equivalent to 11 ± 1 nM Si over a broad range of phosphate concentrations, resulting in an error of ± 1 nM in the corrected silicic acid concentration measurement.     

A chemiluminescent technique for the determination of nanomolar concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in seawater

A chemiluminescent analysis technique for the determination of nanomolar quantities of nitrate, nitrate plus nitrite or nitrite alone in seawater is described. The method depends on the selective reduction of these species to nitric oxide which is then determined by its chemiluminescent reaction with ozone, using a commercial nitrogen oxides analyzer. The necessary equipment is compact and sufficiently sturdy to allow shipboard use. A precision of ±2 nM is claimed with analytical rates of 10–12 samples h^?1, and modifications are discussed to allow doubling the analytical rate.     

A high sensitivity method for the determination of nanomolar concentrations of Nitrate and Nitrite in seawater with a technicon autoanalyzer II

A high sensitivity manifold for the determination of trace quantities (nanomolar concentrations) of nitrate+nitrite and nitrite alone is described. The method uses a classical Technicon AutoAnalyzer II usually employed for shipboard analysis. A reproducibility of ± 1 nmol dm⁻³ for nitrate plus nitrite and nitrite alone was obtained, with an analytical rate of 40 samples h⁻¹.     

Colorimetric determination of nanomolar concentrations of ammonium in seawater using solvent extraction

A solvent extraction method for measuring nanomolar concentrations of ammonium in seawater is described. The procedure is based on formation of indophenol in alkaline solution by reaction of phenol, hypochlorite and ammonia using sodium aquopentacyanoferrate as a coupling agent. Indophenol is then concentrated by extraction into n-hexanol at low pH and re-extraction into aqueous alkaline buffer. The concentration of indophenol blue is determined colorimetrically. The molar absorbance is 2.08 × 10⁵ absorbance units per molar NH₄⁺ in seawater with a precision of ± 1.9 nM NH₄⁺ (95% Cl) for concentrations ≤ 50 nanomolar. This represents a 12-fold improvement in sensitivity and a 26-fold improvement in precision over standard aqueous analyses. Calibration curves are linear to at least 2 μM NH₄⁺. Sensitivity in seawater is 97% of that found in deionized distilled water due to a slight salt effect.     

Sequential injection analysis of nanomolar soluble reactive phosphorus in seawater with HLB solid phase extraction

A cartridge of solid phase extraction (SPE), hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB), has been used to enrich phosphomolybdenum blue (PMB) from water samples without any other additives. Based on this, the previous on-line SPE method established for the determination of nanomolar soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in seawater has been greatly improved. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the cationic surfactant needed for the formation of the PMB-CTAB paired compound that could be extracted on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge using the previous method [Liang, Y., Yuan, D.X., Li, Q.L., Lin, Q.M., 2007. Flow injection analysis of nanomolar level orthophosphate in seawater with solid phase enrichment and colorimetric detection. Marine Chemistry 103, 122–130.], was not necessary. Thus the longer time and higher temperature required for the complete formation of the PMB-CTAB compound were no longer needed. In addition, with application of the sequential injection analysis technique the proposed method showed the advantages of being much faster, simpler, sample and reagent saving, as well as more convenient in operation. The PMB compound formed under room temperature was efficiently extracted on an in-line HLB cartridge, rapidly eluted by 0.15 mol/L NaOH solution, and finally determined with a laboratory-made spectrophotometer at 740 nm. Experimental parameters, including the volume of reagents added, sample loading flow rate, and eluting flow rate, were optimized. Time and temperature for the PMB reaction, and salinity effect were also studied, and these were found to have no severe effect on the detection. With variation of sample loading time at a fixed flow rate, a broadened determination range of 3.4 to 1134 nmol/L phosphate could be obtained. The recovery and the method detection limit of the proposed method were found to be 94.4% and 1.4 nmol/L, respectively. The relative standard deviation (n = 7) was 2.50% for the sample at a concentration of 31 nmol/L phosphate. Two typical seawater samples were analyzed with both the proposed method and the magnesium hydroxide-induced coprecipitation method and, using the t-test, the results of the two methods showed no significant difference.     

共沉淀富集法测定海水中稀土元素含量方法研究

稀土元素已越来越多地应用于示踪各类地球化学体系的物质来源与岩石矿物形成等演化过程。但在进行海水样品的稀土元素检测时,由于样品的高盐特征和稀土元素的痕量特征又使得分析具有相当的挑战性。本研究旨在从高盐的海水基质中有效分离并富集痕量的稀土元素,同时结合电感耦合等离子体质谱（Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, ICP-MS）技术对海水中的稀土进行定量分析。通过对海水样品稀土元素的定量限分析、加标回收实验和梯度加标回收实验,验证了方法的准确性,评估方法的分离富集效率。通过共沉淀过程中的pH比较、氢氧化钠与氨水作为共沉淀剂的比较,确定了富集过程中共沉淀剂用量、种类等影响因素。通过稀土元素配分曲线的绘制与类似样品结果进行比对,以及标准海水的检测结果,验证了方法在实际样品中的可行性。本研究探索了共沉淀富集法在分离富集海水中稀土元素的实验条件,实现高盐背景下痕量稀土的准确定量,并将其用于近岸海水与孔隙水的实际检测。     

A sensor package for the simultaneous determination of nanomolar concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia in seawater by fluorescence detection

A fluorescence-based chemistry has been developed for the detection of nitrite and nitrate (as excess nitrite following reduction of nitrate to nitrite). Detection limits are 4.6 and 6.9 nM, respectively. The technique capitalizes on the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms within the diazonium ion formed via the well-known reaction between an acidified nitrite sample and an aromatic primary amine. Fluorescence of π-electrons within this bond allows this reaction to be probed with standard fluorescence spectroscopy. Reverse Flow Injection Analysis (rFIA) is used to correct for background fluorescence from leachates and naturally occurring dissolved organic matter (DOM). Comparisons of samples analyzed for nitrite with this technique and with a highly-sensitive chemiluminescent method [Braman, R.S., Hendrix, S.A., 1989. Nanogram nitrite and nitrate determination in environmental and biological materials by vanadium (III) reduction with chemiluminescence detection. Analytical Chemistry, 61 (24) 2716–2718] showed excellent agreement between the two methods (slope=0.9996 and r²=0.9956). These fluorescent nitrite and nitrate + nitrite chemistries were coupled in a sensor package with a modified version of a fluorescent ammonia chemistry [Jones, R.D., 1991. An improved fluorescence method for the determination of nanomolar concentrations of ammonia in natural waters, Limnology and Oceanography. 36(4) 814–819], which also has a nanomolar detection limit. The throughput rate of the fully automated three-channel instrumentation is 18 samples per hour. A field experiment demonstrated the capability of the nutrient sensor package to determine horizontal gradients in nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia in oligotrophic surface waters.     

A new method for the quantification of different redox-species of molybdenum (V and VI) in seawater

A new method for the direct determination of reduced and oxidized Mo species (Mo (V) and Mo (VI)) in seawater was developed and used for the first time. The method includes the complexation of Mo (V) with tartrate, solid phase extraction of the Mo (V)–tartrate complex by a XAD 7HP resin, followed by elution with acidic acetone. In this study, the eluted Mo (V) was quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limit of this protocol was on the order of 0.2 nM. The analytical precision was 10% of ~ 10 nM. This method was successfully applied to the determination of Mo (V) and Mo (VI) in surface and bottom waters at the head of Peconic River Estuary. Total Mo (Mo (V) + Mo (VI)) ranged from 100–120 nM in most bottom saline waters, and 2.5–15 nM for surface fresher waters. Concentrations of Mo (V) in these environments ranged from 0 nM to ~ 15 nM, accounting for 0%–15% of the total dissolved Mo pool. The time series experiments showed that the Mo speciation changed within 1 h after the water collection, and therefore it is strongly suggested that speciation analysis be carried out within the first 15 min. However, since these are the first Mo speciation data in concentration ranges typical of normal marine and coastal waters, additional research may be required to optimize the methodology and further explore Mo cycling mechanisms.     

海水中超低含量活性磷酸盐的Mg(OH)2共沉淀法测定研究

活性磷(正磷酸盐)是海洋浮游植物生长所必需的物质基础[1-8],磷的生物可利用性直接影响全球的初级生产力水平.磷在特定的海洋环境中还可能限制固氮作用,成为限制海洋初级生产力的重要因素[1,3,6].海水中磷酸盐含量的测定也是海洋污染调查的重要指标之一[4,9].农业和工业废水中磷的过度排放导致河口和近岸海水富营养化,引起浮游植物异常繁殖,造成“赤潮”现象[4].因此,海水中磷的准确测定对深入理解生物地球化学过程及海洋环境保护具有重要理论和实际意义[4-6,9].磷钼蓝分光光度法是海水中活性磷的经典测定方法,检测限为324 nmo1/dm3[5],但在一些寡营养盐海域,例如在南海、地中海     

Colorimetric determination of nanomolar concentrations of silicate in natural waters after liquid-liquid extraction using methyl isobutyl ketone

A sensitive solvent extraction method for the determination of nonamolar concentrations of silicate in natural waters is developed. According to the traditional aqueous silicate method, silicomolybdenum blue formed by the reaction between silicate and ammoni- um molydate and reduced by metol-sulfite reagent is extracted by methyl isobutyl ketone. The absorbance can be enhanced substantially up to 10-folds. The detection limit of silicate is 8 nmol/dm^3 , which is one tenth smaller than the traditional method, with the precision of 4.0% at a silicate level of 50 nmol/dm^3 and 3.2% at a silicate level of 6 μmol/dm^3. Comparing the calibration curves in the distilled water and seawater, it can be seen that the salt effect also exists in the extraction method. However, the salt effect is a linear function of the salinity and can be corrected by simple calibration. The proposed method is successfully applied to the determination of silicate in natural waters. Natural concentrations of arsenate, arsenite and phosphate cause negligible interference.     

Liquid waveguide capillary cell for the spectrophotometric determination of nanomolar iodate concentrations in marine waters

A new spectrophotometric method based on a liquid waveguide capillary cell for an enhanced detection was developed to measure nanomolar iodate concentrations. This method has a detection limit and precision of 1–2 nmol/L, which is equivalent to 10% that of conventional methods, a recovery of 97.7%–104.0%, and a working range of 10–120 nmol/L. Water samples were collected from three estuaries and one coastal ocean for testing, and the proposed technique detected as low as 11 nmol/L and 18 nmol/L ...     

A rapid birefringence method for measuring suspended CaCO3 concentrations in seawater

The extreme birefringence of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) relative to other major components of marine particulate matter provides a basis for making optical in situ measurements of particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) in seawater. This concept was tested with a benchtop spectrophotometer equipped with a 1- and 10-cm path length sample cell and modified with linear polarizers to measure the birefringence of suspended particles. Sample suspensions containing 3–100% CaCO₃ (by weight) were prepared from calcareous marine sediment material and varying amounts of non-birefringent diatomaceous earth. The samples ranged in total suspended material from 0.003 to 249 mg l⁻¹ and PIC from 0.03 to 1820 μmol CaCO₃ l⁻¹. A positive relationship was observed between birefringence and PIC, with response falling off as the total particle concentration and the relative abundance of non-CaCO₃ particles in the sample increased. Sensitivity increased linearly with optical path length, and absolute detection limits of 0.2–0.4 and 0.04–0.08 μmol CaCO₃ l⁻¹, respectively, were determined for path lengths of 1- and 10-cm based on the intrinsic signal noise of the modified spectrophotometer. Conventional (i.e., non-polarized) transmittance measurements were used to correct the birefringence signal for the sensitivity loss due to interference from scattering and absorption. Without further modification, this spectrophotometer-based method can be used (with a 10-cm cell) to quantify PIC in most surface ocean waters—including those influenced by coccolithophore blooms. The spectrophotometer results define performance requirements and design parameters for an in situ instrument capable of operating over the oceanic range of PIC.     

A catalytic oxidation method for the determination of total nitrogen dissolved in seawater

A detailed examination of a high-temperature catalytic oxidation method for liquid samples in the analysis of total nitrogen dissolved in seawater is reported. The nitrogenous compounds in liquid samples are oxidized on a platinum catalyzer at 680°C under oxygen atmosphere and the generated NO₂ is absorbed into a chromogenic reagent, followed by a spectrophotometric determination. The results of this method are much higher than those of wet oxidation methods. Molecular size dependency of the results clearly indicates that the above discrepancy is caused by the low oxidation capacity of the wet oxidation method against high-polymer organic matter dissolved in seawater. The results revealed that the concentration of total nitrogen in seawater is nearly constant from surface to bottom, ranging from 30 to 40 μM 1^?1, which organic nitrogen concentration higher in the surface layer, and a rapid decrease with depth. An examination of molecular size distribution indicates that the concentration of high-polymer organic nitrogen decreases rapidly from surface to deeper layers, with molecular sizes ranging from 5 × 10³ to 3 × 10⁴. Because of the well-defined principle of the oxidation process, its reliability, ease of sample handling and of analytical procedure on board or in the land laboratory, the present method is much more suitable for the marine analytical chemistry of total and organic nitrogen than the other previous methods.     

An improved method for the determination of ammonia in seawater

The Liddicoat, Tibbitts and Butler method for the determination of ammonia in seawater has been noticeably improved by replacing the UV lamp with a 300 VA tungsten lamp. The characteristics so achieved, a low blank value (0.012 ± 0.002a.u.), a good molar absorptivity (23.90 × 10⁻³) and a reasonably short reaction time (1 h), are such that this modified procedure is more convenient for routine work in chemical oceanography.     

A simplified resorcinol method for direct spectrophotometric determination of nitrate in seawater

A direct, spectrophotometric method has been adapted for quantitative determination of nitrate concentrations in seawater. The method is based on nitration of resorcinol in acidified seawater, resulting in a color product. The absorption spectrum obtained for the reaction product shows a maximum absorption at 505 nm, with a molar absorptivity of 1.7 × 10⁴ L mol^− 1 cm^− 1. This method has a detection limit of 0.5 μM and is linear up to 400 μM for nitrate. The advantage of this method is that all reagents are in aqueous solutions without involving cadmium granules as a heterogeneous reactant, as in conventional methods, and therefore is simple to implement. Application of the resorcinol to seawater analysis demonstrated that the results obtained are in good agreement with the conventional approach involving the reduction of nitrate by cadmium followed by diazotization.     

A simplified automated chelometric method for the determination of sulfate in interstitial water and seawater

A method is described for the determination of sulfate in interstitial water and seawater. After BaSO₄ precipitation, the Ba²⁺ excess is titrated with EDTA using an amalgated silver electrode for end-point detection. An accuracy better than 0.5% is obtained using this method.     

海水中低含量铵氮的高灵敏度荧光法测定

提出了一种改进的、可测定海水中低含量铵氮的高灵敏度荧光分析方法。其原理是在硼酸缓冲溶液的作用下,海水中的铵氮与邻苯二甲醛(OPA)发生衍生化反应,通过测定生成的荧光产物来确定水体中铵氮的浓度。方法的检测限极低(0.002 5μmol/L),重现性好,且水样用量少(10 mL),适用于海水中溶解有机物的光铵化研究及其他低铵含量水样的测定。     

A new dry combustion method for the simultaneous determination of total organic carbon and nitrogen in seawater

A new dry combustion method for the simultaneous determination of total organic carbon and nitrogen in seawater is presented. Concentrations of total organic carbon obtained using this method average about 2.0 mg/l in surface water and 1.5 mg/l in deep water in the Northwest Atlantic. These concentrations are significantly greater than those reported using wet oxidation and wet combustion methods, but are comparable to concentrations reported by Russian workers using a similar dry combustion method. Organic nitrogen concentrations average 0.44 mg/l in surface water and 0.12 mg/l in deep water, yielding CN ratios for total organic matter of 5 and 12 respectively.