Development of a method for isolation of gram quantities of dissolved organic matter from sea water and some chemical and isotopic characteristics of the isolated material

For the first time, gram quantities of dissolved organic matter have been isolated from several thousand liters of sea water with minor contamination. Optimum conditions for the adsorption of the dissolved organic matter to activated charcoal columns have been determined, and a continuous flow system for shipboard pumping of as much as 9,000 liters of acidified, filtered sea water through charcoal columns within 24 hours has been built and used. At least 80% of the adsorbed organic matter can be desorbed from the charcoal by elution with light solvents. Four gram size samples of sea water organic matter form different locations and depths in the Gulf of Mexico have been recovered. Eight smaller samples containing 100 mg or less of organic carbon have also been obtained. ..