High Sensitivity, Low Volume Method to Determine Dissolved Phosphorus

A high sensitivity, low volume method was developed to determine nanomolar concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) using reverse phase HPLC. The technique in determining SRP involved using methods from Strickland and Parsons, 1972 and Karl and Tien, 1992. Various techniques for improving blanks and sensitivity will be discussed. The method was applied to seawater and freshwater samples taken from the estuarine Nueces Delta system, Texas, two sites in the Gulf of Mexico, and within two upland (2400 m) forest catchments in the Peruvian Andes. One catchment was partially deforested within the last 3 years, while the other has remained untouched. Samples in the Gulf of Mexico were taken at a series of coastal and open water stations at various depths. Samples in each of the two upland forest catchments in Peru were obtained at 33.3 m distance intervals along a 100 m reach. Samples were taken in the Nueces River, Texas upland from a marsh estuary and from high and low regions of the marsh. Comparisons are made between the forest catchment sites in addition to comparisons made in the Nueces marsh estuary/river system. Depth profiles of SRP in the Gulf of Mexico are established. Future studies should be conducted to investigate phosphate in sediment pore waters. This method has many potential applications, is scalable across a wide range of sample volumes, and can be automated.