Abstract
Determinations of Chlorophyll a (Chl a) in eutrophic coastal marine waters were compared using N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and 90% acetone techniques. Measured Chl a concentrations ranged from 0.89 to 10.65 μg l−1 for 90% acetone extracts and from 0.97 to 12.92 μg l−1 for DMF extracts, respectively, for 24 surface water samples from the Harima-nada, Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Chl a concentrations using DMF as a solvent were consistently higher than those found using 90% acetone (p < 0.001, n= 24). Chl a is thus likely to be underestimated (by 13%) when 90% acetone is used for eutrophic waters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Furuya, K., M. Hayashi and Y. Yabushita (1998): HPLC determination of phytoplankton pigments using N,N-dimethyl formamide. J. Oceanogr., 54, 199–203.
Holm-Hansen, O., C. J. Lorenzen, R. W. Holmes and J. D. H. Strickland (1965): Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer., 30, 3–15.
Jeffrey, S. W. and G. F. Humphrey (1975): New spectrophotometric equations for determining chlorophylls a, b, c1 and c2 in higher plants, algae and natural phytoplankton. Biochem. Physiol. Pflanz., 167, 191–194.
Moran, R. and D. Porath (1980): Chlorophyll determination in intact tissues using N,N-dimethyl formamide. Plant Physiol., 65, 478–479.
Parsons, T. R., Y. Maita and C. M. Lalli (1984): A Manual of Chemical and Biological Methods for Seawater Analysis. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 173 pp.
Porra, R. J., W. A. Thompson and P. E. Kriedemann (1989): Determination of accurate coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls aand bextracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentrarion of chlorophyll standards by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 975, 384–394.
Speziale, B. J., S. P. Schreiner, P. A. Giammatteo and J. E. Schindler (1984): Comparison of N,N-dimethyl-formamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and acetone for extraction of phytoplankton chlorophyll. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 41, 1519–1522.
Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons (1972): A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analysis. 2nd ed., Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. No. 167, 310 pp.
Suzuki, R. and T. Ishimaru (1990): An improved method for the determination of phytoplankton chlorophyll using N,Ndimethyl-formamide. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 46, 190–194.
Suzuki, R., M. Takahashi, K. Furuya and T. Ishimaru (1993):Simplified technique for the rapid determination of phytoplankton pigments by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. J. Oceanogr., 49, 571–580.
UNESCO (1994): IOC manuals and guides, 29.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tada, K., Yamaguchi, H. & Montani, S. Comparison of Chlorophyll a Concentrations Obtained with 90% Acetone and N,N-dimethylformamide Extraction in Coastal Seawater. Journal of Oceanography 60, 259–261 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCE.0000038332.25767.a2
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCE.0000038332.25767.a2