Articles | Volume 21, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1395-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1395-2025
Technical note
 | 
21 Jul 2025
Technical note |  | 21 Jul 2025

Combining benzalkonium chloride addition with filtration to inhibit dissolved inorganic carbon alteration during the preservation of water sample in radiocarbon analysis

Hiroshi A. Takahashi and Masayo Minami

Cited articles

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Short summary
This study evaluates various treatments to prevent changes in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) during water sample preservation without HgCl₂ addition. We found that combining filtration with benzalkonium chloride (BAC) addition effectively stabilized DIC by inhibiting microbial activity for up to 41 weeks. This procedure provides a practical, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional mercury-disinfected methods, enduring effective water sample preservation in aquatic environments.
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