High-throughput measurement and classification of organic P in environmental samples

• Published in: Journal of visualized experiments no. 52
• Main Authors: Johnson, Nicholas R, Hill, Jane E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States MyJove Corporation 08.06.2011
• Subjects: Acid Phosphatase - chemistry; Colorimetry - methods; Hydrolysis; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Microbiology; Organic Chemicals - analysis; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus - chemistry; Soil - analysis
• ISSN: 1940-087X; 1940-087X
• DOI: 10.3791/2660

Many types of organic phosphorus (P) molecules exist in environmental samples. Traditional P measurements do not detect these organic P compounds since they do not react with colorimetric reagents. Enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) is an emerging method for accurately characterizing organic P forms in environmental samples. This method is only trumped in accuracy by Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ((31)P-NMR)--a method that is expensive and requires specialized technical training. We have adapted an enzymatic hydrolysis method capable of measuring three classes of phosphorus (monoester P, diester P and inorganic P) to a microplate reader system. This method provides researchers with a fast, accurate, affordable and user-friendly means to measure P species in soils, sediments, manures and, if concentrated, aquatic samples. This is the only high-throughput method for measuring the forms and enzyme-lability of organic P that can be performed in a standard laboratory. The resulting data provides insight to scientists studying system nutrient content and eutrophication potential.