Abstract
Organic complexes of magnesium, iron, zinc and copper have been isolated from seawater by adsorption onto octadecylsilyl-modified silica (SEP-PAK cartridges). The compounds were fractionated by HPLC and metals were detected in the eluate by atomic fluorescence. The most polar fraction contained a significant proportion of the metal—organics but only a low percentage of the UV-absorbing (254 nm) material. Magnesium—organics of low polarity were found in deep (5000 m), water but the compounds do not seem to be derived from tetrapyrroles. There were large systematic variations in the chromatograms as the column aged and it is thought that free silanol groups were removing metals from the metal—organic complexes. The effect was most pronounced for magnesium. Inorganic metal ions can be adsorbed by columns containing capped or uncapped C18-bonded silica and the adsorption of metals is enhanced by treatment with methanol. The cation exchange capacities of chromatographic packings must be taken into account when metal—organic compounds are analysed by HPLC.
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