Optimisation of a fast DMS sensor (FDS) for real time quantification of dimethyl sulfide production by algae
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Biogeochemistry, 2012, 110 (1-3), pp. 163 - 172
- Issue Date:
- 2012-01-01
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Production of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from marine samples is often quantified using gas chromatography techniques. Typically, these are labour intensive and have a slow sample turnover rate. Here we demonstrate the use of a portable fast DMS sensor (FDS) that utilises the chemiluminescent reaction of DMS and ozone to measure DMS production in aqueous samples, with a maximum frequency of 10 Hz. We have developed a protocol for quantifying DMS production that removes potential signal interference from other biogenic trace gases such as isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and hydrogen sulfide. The detection limit was 0. 89 pM (0. 02 ppbv) when using a DMS standard gas mixture. The lowest DMS production rates quantified with the FDS and verified using conventional gas chromatography with flame photometric detection (GC-FPD) were around 0. 01 nmol min -1. There was a strong correlation in DMS production when comparing the FDS and GC-FPD techniques with a range of marine samples (e. g., r 2 = 0. 94 for Emiliania huxleyi). However, the combined dataset showed the FDS measured 22% higher DMS production than the GC-FPD, with the differences in rates likely due to interfering gases, for example hydrogen sulfide and isoprene. This possible overestimation of DMS production is smaller than the two-fold difference in DMS production between day and night samples from a culture of E. huxleyi. The response time of the instrument to changes in DMS production is method dependent (e. g., geometry of incubation vessel, bubble size) and was approximately 4 min under our conditions when using a culture of E. huxleyi (800 ml) with aeration at 100 ml min -1. We suggest the FDS can reduce sample handling, is suitable for short- and long-term measurements of DMS production in algal cultures, and will widen the range of DMS research in marine environments. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
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