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A bacterial bioassay for measuring the copper‐chelation capacity of seawater 1
Author(s) -
Gillespie Paul A.,
Vaccaro Ralph F.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1978.23.3.0543
Subject(s) - ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid , copper , chelation , seawater , environmental chemistry , bioassay , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry
A relatively simple 14 C tracer bioassay technique is described which uses a copper sensitive bacterium to measure the copper chelation capacity of seawater. Known increments of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid are used to evaluate decreased bacterial inhibition accompanying reduced cupric ion activity. Ultraviolet irradiation and selective filtration of natural seawaters indicate that organic assemblages having molecular weights <10,000 are principally responsible for copper chelation. Copper chelation capacities ranged from 3 µ g·liter −1 of copper for oligotrophic to 40 µ g liter −1 of copper for eutrophic marine waters.