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A field and laboratory procedure to collect, process, and preserve fresh‐water samples for dissolved organic carbon analysis
Author(s) -
Kaplan Louis A.
Publication year - 1994
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.1994.39.6.1470
Subject(s) - cartridge , filtration (mathematics) , environmental science , dissolved organic carbon , persulfate , biocide , chemistry , environmental chemistry , chromatography , pulp and paper industry , materials science , mathematics , biochemistry , statistics , organic chemistry , metallurgy , catalysis , engineering
I tested each step required to prepare freshwater samples for dissolved organic C (DOC) analysis, including collection, filtration, preservation, and storage. I placed particular emphasis on finding a protocol that was amenable for use at remote field sites as well as in the laboratory. A portable and manual syringe‐type sample collection and filtration system was free of artifacts and yielded filter blanks of <5 µ g C liter −1 . Analysis of 5 yr of streamwater DOC data showed an average relative precision of 2% for the total procedure from sample collection through analysis by persulfate oxidation. Sample volumes of 100 liters or more were processed with a cartridge filtration system that gave results equivalent to syringe filtration. It is possible to store samples preserved with acids or biocides at room temperature for 2 weeks to 1.5 yr with only a 1–11% reduction in accuracy.