| Abstract: | An improved method for the bulk characterization of particulate and dissolved combined carbohydrates in seawater is presented. Seawater samples are dried under vacuum and the residue is hydrolyzed with 12 M H2SO4. Carbohydrates in the hydrolysate are subsequently quantified spectrophotometrically by MBTH (3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride) analysis. Sulfuric acid was more effective in hydrolyzing high-molecular-weight structural carbohydrates (cellulose, chitin, and alginic acid) than weak (0.09 N) hydrochloric acid. Sulfuric acid hydrolysis of dissolved and particulate samples yielded estimates of carbohydrates equal to or greater (two- to four-fold) than those resulting from dilute (0.09 N) HCl hydrolysis. In samples from the Gulf of Mexico, total dissolved carbohydrates determined after sulfuric acid hydrolysis varied from 20 to 56 μM C and from 10 to 28% of the dissolved organic carbon determined by high-temperature catalytic oxidation. |
