Rc. Thompson et al., Problems in extraction and spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyllfrom epilithic microbial biofilms: towards a standard method, J MARINE BI, 79(3), 1999, pp. 551-558
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
A variety of methods are available to extract chlorophyll from epilithic bi
ofilms using solvents. The relative efficiency of these has not been determ
ined simultaneously and there is no recognized standard procedure. In this
paper techniques for sample collection: storage, preparation and extraction
are reviewed and compared experimentally.
Extraction of chlorophyll was incomplete unless biofilms were fully hydrate
d. This factor was highly significant for all the solvents tested, with at
least three: times more pigment being extracted from hydrated samples than
from dry ones. Methanol was the most efficient solvent, releasing over 96%
of the total chlorophyll during a single extraction; hot ethanol extracted
86%, while acetone extracted less than 50%. Sonicating samples during extra
ction did not release any additional pigment. Centrifuging to remove suspen
ded material did not alter estimates and was not advantageous. Rugose rock
surfaces released more chlorophyll than smooth ones. However, a simple meth
od to quantify surface rugosity at an appropriate scale was not available.
Based on these observations, a standard method for chlorophyll extractions
from epilithic biofilms using 100% methanol at room temperature (20 degrees
C) is proposed. This technique requires considerably less supervision than
previously preferred methods and gave a chlorophyll extract which was stab
le for 15 h.