Comparison of Manual and Automated Methods of Inorganic Micro-Nutrient Analyses

摘要

This report covers the organization, execution, and results of an experiment designed to compare manual wet-chemical analysis with AutoAnalyzer methods for the common micro-nutrients of interest to marine chemists and oceanographers. The results demonstrate that the sacrifice of sensitivity (shorter light paths, use of secondary absorption maxima) for economy and speed of sample throughout using AutoAnalyzer techniques in most series for low levels of silicate, phosphate and nitrite/nitrate. However, at levels most often encountered in intermediate, eutrophic or deep waters, the loss of sensitivity is not so important. Both methods proved to yield similar accuracy in the analysis of synthetic standards at higher levels. The improved precision and convenience of the AutoAnalyzer techniques commends its use where appropriate.