A novel method for the rapid determination of chlorin concentrations at high stratigraphic resolution in marine sediments

A sensitive, semi-automated method has been developed for the rapid estimation of the total concentration of chlorophyll a transformation products (chlorins) in solvent extracts of aquatic sediments. The methodology utilizes a laboratory robot for sample extraction and work up and a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system operated under off-column conditions. Use of an on-line tuneable fluorescence detector allows measurement of total chlorin concentration at greater sensitivity than conventional u.v./vis spectrophotometric detection, and allows reproducible results to be obtained from smaller sediment samples. This is relevant to palaeoceanographic studies at high stratigraphic resolution or where sample demand is high for other stratigraphic studies.