Programmable flow injection in batch mode: Determination of nutrients in sea water by using a single, salinity independent calibration line, obtained with standards prepared in distilled water

ABSTRACT Interference of the Schlieren effect on sea water analysis by spectrophotometry is caused by the flow of solutions of different ionic strengths through a flow cell. A flow injection assay protocol programmed in a flow-batch format removes this interference and allows the use of a calibration line, obtained in deionized water, for determination of analytes in sea water samples of different salinity. This Single Line Calibration (SLC) technique is validated on the most frequently performed nutrient assays. Automated determinations, performed at rates ranging from 20 to 60 samples/hr, covered seawater sample ranges from nM to mM with limits of detection: 12 nM for nitrite, 94 nM for nitrate, 47 nM for phosphate, and 240 nM for silicate. Reproducibility of the determinations was equal to or better than, 3% r.s.d. and day to day calibration was within 10%. The programmable FI, uses about 1/5th volume of reagents compared to continuous flow techniques.