| Abstract: | A highly sensitive laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) system has been developed to study the fluorescence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the marine environment. The LIF detector has a detection limit of 10 attomoles (10 × 10−18 moles) of pterin and eliminates internal quenching in highly fluorescent samples such as anoxic porewaters encountered when using conventional fluorometry. LIF analysis is rapid, reproducible, and uses only 100 μl of a sample. This small size requirement permits fluorescence analyses of samples often available only in limited amounts, such as porewaters, hydrothermal vent waters, and rainwaters. In addition, the LIF detection system may greatly simplify extraction and separation procedures required to characterize the fluorescent components of DOC. |
