Sterilization with benzalkonium chloride for DIC analysis of seawater samples

Abstract

Dissolved inorganic carbon analysis of water samples requires treatment to stop the activity of microorganisms living in the sample. We tested low environmental impact filtration treatment and addition of benzalkonium chloride using seawater and groundwater. Filtration treatment alone did not eliminate the effects of biological activity. The addition of benzalkonium chloride alone was effective in groundwater, but caused negligible changes in seawater. However, the combined treatment of filtration and addition of benzalkonium chloride was shown to eliminate the effects of biological activity even in seawater.