Construction of a Soluble Reactive Phosphate Analyzer for in situ Measurements in Natural Waters
Public Deposited- Last Modified
- February 26, 2019
- Creator
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Wahl, Timothy
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry
- Abstract
- The goal of Honors project was to modify an in situ Nitrate/Nitrite autoanalyzer to enable in situ measurements of Soluble Reactive Phosphates (SRP). The purpose for this project was to create instrumentation able to determine concentrations of SRP, a crucial nutrient element for both freshwater and marine environments. The Redfield atomic ratio of plankton averages approximately 106 C: 16 N: 1 P and has often been used to determine whether the limiting element needed for primary production is N or P. Improved technologies for rapid, in situ determination of SRP concentrations are needed. One of two Nitrate/Nitrite analyzers in our laboratory was redesigned to accurately measure the SRP at nanomolar concentrations. The analyzer, a Mini Spectrophotometric Elemental Analysis System (M-SEAS), utilized a molybdate-based color reagent to react with SRP in water samples followed by absorbance at 680, 700, and 720 nm wavelengths. Using a system of peristaltic pumps, the M-SEAS, was able to reproducibly measure SRP concentrations down to 80 ± 9.6 nM PO[4]3-. As a result of the experiment additional nutrient analysis of marine samples can be conducted to better understand biological and geochemical cycling in the environment.
- Date of publication
- spring 2016
- Keyword
- DOI
- Resource type
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Note
- Funding: None
- Advisor
- Martens, Christopher S.
- Degree
- Bachelor of Science
- Honors level
- Honors
- Degree granting institution
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Extent
- 21
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