A microplate technique to quantify nutrients (NO2−, NO3−, NH4+ and PO43−) in seawater |
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Authors: | Jorge Hernández-López & Francisco Vargas-Albores |
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Institution: | Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, SC (CIBNOR), Guaymas, Sonora, México;Marine Biotechnology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, AC (CIAD), Hermosillo, Sonora, México |
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Abstract: | Many methods to measure nutrients (NO2?, NO3?, NH4+, and PO43?) in water are based on the formation of coloured complexes that are measured by spectrophotometry, frequently using large‐volume (10 mL) spectrophotometer cells. Miniaturization of the techniques using microplate readers and sample volumes as small as 250 μL is an affordable alternative for these determinations. This work describes the adaptation to microtechniques using a 96‐well microplate to measure nitrogen compounds and phosphate in seawater. They can be used as an inexpensive procedure for routine monitoring in aquaculture ponds because of the smaller sample, reagent requirements, and suitable ranges. |
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Keywords: | seawater nutrients microtechniques nitrogen compounds |
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