The Copper Content of Sea-water

Abstract

1. On comparing the potassium ethyl xanthate and the sodium diethyldithio-carbamate methods for estimating copper the latter was found to be preferable because (a) It is at least twice as delicate, (b) The reagent is absolutely colourless, (c) In very dilute solution ferric iron causes little or no disturbance.2. Estimation of copper may be carried out by electro-deposition from one litre of sea-water at about 90-100° C. for three hours at 2.0 volts with subsequent re-solution and colorimetric estimation using the carbamate method.3. In agreement with the spectroscopic determinations of Dieulafait in 1879, it was found that sea-water contains about 10 mg. per cubic metre of copper.

Complexing capacity of the nutrient medium and its relation to inhibition of algal photosynthesis by copper

“…In the ocean, total copper concentration varies from about 3 ~Lg/1 in the open sea [14] to about 10 to 90 ~gfl in coastal waters depending on location and season [1,13]. The general concentration level of copper in most parts of Lake Ontario was in the range of 1-4 ~Lgfl.…”

THE EFFECT OF COPPER (II) ON SURVIVAL, RESPIRATION, AND HEART RATE IN THE COMMON BLUE MUSSEL, MYTILUS EDULIS

“…In the sea, normal concentrations of copper lie between 0.01 mg 1 in coastal waters (Atkins, 1932), and 0.003 mg/1 in the open sea (Goldberg, 1963). Little is known of the copper cycle, and the distribution of this metal in the open sea.…”

The Association of Copper With Dissolved Organic Matter in Seawater1

“…The analytical procedure for copper was essentially that of Atkins ( 1932)) Chow and Thompson (1952) and Strickland and Parsons ( 1965). To a 600-ml sample of seawater at pH 4 was added 5 ml of 0.44 M dibasic ammonium citrate (to complex the iron).…”