Articles | Volume 11, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-947-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-947-2015
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, C. Robinson, G. H. Tilstone, G. Tarran, and J. Kaiser

Viewed

Total article views: 3,217 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
1,681 1,384 152 3,217 131 130
  • HTML: 1,681
  • PDF: 1,384
  • XML: 152
  • Total: 3,217
  • BibTeX: 131
  • EndNote: 130
Views and downloads (calculated since 24 Aug 2015)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 24 Aug 2015)

Cited

Saved (final revised paper)

Latest update: 23 Nov 2024
Download
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.