Articles | Volume 11, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-947-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-947-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Technical note
| 
07 Dec 2015
Technical note |
| 07 Dec 2015
Technical note: Could benzalkonium chloride be a suitable alternative to mercuric chloride for preservation of seawater samples?
J. Gloël
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, The Hoe, Plymouth, UK
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
C. Robinson
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
G. H. Tilstone
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, The Hoe, Plymouth, UK
G. Tarran
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, The Hoe, Plymouth, UK
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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Cited
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Sample preservation methods for nitrous oxide concentration and isotope ratio measurements in aquatic environments C. Frey et al.
- Comparative assessment of preservation methods for major nutrients in polar seawater M. Kim et al.
- Combining benzalkonium chloride addition with filtration to inhibit dissolved inorganic carbon alteration during the preservation of water sample in radiocarbon analysis H. Takahashi & M. Minami
- Physicochemical behavior and impact of CO2 and CH4 plumes during gas-rich water leakage in a shallow carbonate freshwater aquifer D. Segura et al.
- Preservation methods for the isotopic composition of dissolved carbon species in non‐ideal conditions J. Wilson et al.
- Assessment of the influence of benzalkonium chloride addition on radiocarbon analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon H. Takahashi & M. Minami
- HgCl2 addition to pore water samples from cold seeps can affect the geochemistry of dissolved inorganic carbon ([DIC], δ13CDIC) C. Argentino et al.
- Porewater inputs drive Fe redox cycling in the water column of a temperate mangrove wetland C. Holloway et al.
- Silver nitrate preserves seawater carbonate chemistry for short-term storage K. Ndungu et al.
- Tissue Culture of Corymbia and Eucalyptus S. Trueman et al.
- Filtration and exposure to benzalkonium chloride or sodium chloride to preserve water samples for dissolved inorganic carbon analysis H. Takahashi et al.
- Alkalinity of diverse water samples can be altered by mercury preservation and borosilicate vial storage B. Mos et al.
- Declining bactericidal effect of benzalkonium chloride for radiocarbon analysis of seawater: Salinity influence H. Takahashi et al.
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Sample preservation methods for nitrous oxide concentration and isotope ratio measurements in aquatic environments C. Frey et al.
- Comparative assessment of preservation methods for major nutrients in polar seawater M. Kim et al.
- Combining benzalkonium chloride addition with filtration to inhibit dissolved inorganic carbon alteration during the preservation of water sample in radiocarbon analysis H. Takahashi & M. Minami
- Physicochemical behavior and impact of CO2 and CH4 plumes during gas-rich water leakage in a shallow carbonate freshwater aquifer D. Segura et al.
- Preservation methods for the isotopic composition of dissolved carbon species in non‐ideal conditions J. Wilson et al.
- Assessment of the influence of benzalkonium chloride addition on radiocarbon analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon H. Takahashi & M. Minami
- HgCl2 addition to pore water samples from cold seeps can affect the geochemistry of dissolved inorganic carbon ([DIC], δ13CDIC) C. Argentino et al.
- Porewater inputs drive Fe redox cycling in the water column of a temperate mangrove wetland C. Holloway et al.
- Silver nitrate preserves seawater carbonate chemistry for short-term storage K. Ndungu et al.
- Tissue Culture of Corymbia and Eucalyptus S. Trueman et al.
- Filtration and exposure to benzalkonium chloride or sodium chloride to preserve water samples for dissolved inorganic carbon analysis H. Takahashi et al.
- Alkalinity of diverse water samples can be altered by mercury preservation and borosilicate vial storage B. Mos et al.
- Declining bactericidal effect of benzalkonium chloride for radiocarbon analysis of seawater: Salinity influence H. Takahashi et al.
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 14 May 2026
Short summary
We assess benzalkonium chloride (BAC) as alternative to mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for preservation of seawater samples. BAC concentrations of 50mg dm–3 inhibited microbial activity for at least 3 days in samples tested with chlorophyll a concentrations up to 1mg m–3. With fewer risks to health and environment, and lower waste disposal costs, BAC could be a short-term alternative to HgCl2, but cannot replace it for oxygen triple isotope samples, which require storage over weeks to months.
We assess benzalkonium chloride (BAC) as alternative to mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for...
