Abstract
Understanding phosphorus dynamics inmarine environment is of great importance, and appropriate tracers for phosphorus cycling in oceans are invaluable. In this study, two methods were developed for extraction, purification, and determination of naturally occurring 32P and 33P in rainwater, marine plankton and sediments using both a low-level beta counter (LBC) and an ultra-low-level liquid scintillation spectrometer (LSS). Blanks, chemical yields and counting efficiencies were quantified for bothmethods. The chemical purification of 32P and 33P separated by both procedures was validated by their decay curves. The absorber thickness of aluminum for LBC was assessed as 39.2 mg/cm2. 32P and 33P specific activities in some rain samples were determined by both methods and showed good consistent results. The advantage of the LSS over the LBC is apparent in its high counting efficiency and in determining samples with high concentration of stable phosphorus. However, when measuring environmental samples with low concentration of stable phosphorus, such as rainwater, both methods can be used and each has its distinct advantage.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Benitez-Nelson C R. 2000. The biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in marine systems. Earth-Science Reviews, 51: 109–135
Benitez-Nelson C R, Buesseler K O. 1998. Measurement of cosmogenic 32Pand33P activities in rainwater and seawater. Analytical Chemistry, 70: 64–72
Benitez-Nelson C R, Buesseler K O. 1999. Variability of inorganic and organic phosphorus turnover rates in the coastal ocean. Nature, 398: 502–505
Benitez-Nelson C R, Karl D M. 2002. Phosphorus cycling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre using cosmogenic 32P and 33P. Limnology and Oceanography, 47: 762–770
Dai Jicui, Song Jinming, Li Xuegang, et al. 2007. Geochemieal records of phosphorus in Jiaozhou Bay sediments-implications for environmental changes in recent hundred years. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 26(4): 132–147
Friedlander G, Kennedy J W, Miller J M. 1981. Nuclear and Radiochemistry. New York: Wiley
Lal D, Chung Y T, Platt T, et al. 1988. Twin cosmogenic radiotracer studies of phosphorus recycling and chemical fluxes in the upper ocean. Limnology and Oceanography, 33: 1559–1567
Lal D, Narasappaya N, Zutshi P K. 1957. Phosphorus isotopes 32P and 33P in rain water. Nuclear Physics, 3: 69–75
Lal D, Rama, Zutshi P K. 1960. Radioisotopes 32P, 7Be and 35S in the atmosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research, 65: 669–674
Lee T, Barg E, Lal D. 1992. Techniques for extraction of dissolved inorganic and organic phosphorus from large volumes of sea water. Analytica Chimica Acta, 260: 113–121
Luyanas V Y, Yasyulyonis R Y, Shopauskiene D A, et al. 1970. Cosmogenic 22N, 7Be, 32P and 33P in atmospheric. Journal of Geophysical Research, 75: 3665–3668
Pan Jianming, Hu Chuanyu, Chen Jianfang, et al. 2003. The chemical distribution characteristics of variant form phosphorus in the seawater of the South China Sea. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 22(3): 385–394
Parsons T R, Maita Y, Lalli C M. 1984. A manual of chemical and biologicalmethods for seawater analysis. Oxford: Pergamon Press
Planavsky N J, Rouxel O J, Bekker A, et al. 2010. The evolution of the marine phosphate reservoir. Nature, 467: 1088–1090
Qi Xiaohong, Liu Sumei, Zhang Jing, et al. 2011. Cycling of phosphorus in the Jiaozhou Bay. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 30(2): 62–74
Rama, Honda M. 1961. Natural radioactivity in the atmosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research, 66: 3227–3231
Sanak J, Lamber G, Ardouin B. 1985. Measurement of stratosphereto-troposphere exchange in Antarctic by using short-lived cosmonuclides. Tellus, 37B: 109–115
Walton A, Fried R E. 1962. The deposition of 7Be and 32P in precipitation at North Temperate Latitudes. Journal of Geophysical Research, 67: 5335–5340
Waser N A D, Bacon M P. 1994. Cosmic ray produced 32P and 33P in Cl, S and K at mountain altitude and calculation of oceanic production rates. Geophysical Research Letters, 21: 991–994
Waser N A D, Bacon M P. 1995. Wet deposition fluxes of cosmogenic 32P and 33P and variations in the 33P/32P ratios at Bermuda. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 133: 71–80
Waser N A D, Bacon M P, Michaels A F. 1996. Natural activities of 32P and 33P and the 33P/32P ratio in suspended particulate matter and plankton in the Sargasso Sea. Deep-Sea Research Part II, 43: 421–436
Waser N A D, Fleer A P, Hammar T R, et al. 1994. Determination of natural 32P and 33P in rainwater, marine particle and plankton by low-level beta counting. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 338: 560–567
Zhang Lei, Chen Min, Yang weifeng, et al. 2005. Size-fractionated thorium isotopes (228Th, 230Th, 232Th) in surface water in Jiulong river estuary, China. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 78(2): 199–216
Zhang Yuanhui, Zhu Laiming, Zeng Xianzhang, et al. 2004. The biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in the upper ocean of the East China Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 60: 369–379
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41125020; a special scientific research project for public welfare supported by the State Oceanic Administration under contract No. 2010050012-3.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, M., Yang, Z., Zhang, L. et al. Determination of cosmogenic 32P and 33P in environmental samples. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 32, 18–25 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0305-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0305-5