turtle1769

Hi Peterkin, thanks for your reply. I do have access to a centrifuge, would you recommend centrifuging the sediment samples and then fixing the supernatant hence, assuming that all the diatoms will be separated from the sediment? I am unsure whether I should also be looking into using the lens tissue method and whether these steps need to be done prior to fixation of the sediment samples. I unfortunately am limited in time so I will not have sufficient time to prepare permanent slides here but I will plan to do this on my return to my home lab. Would you recommend cleaning and washing the samples from the salt, as it is marine samples I am dealing with before preserving?

Hi, I want to identify the benthic diatoms present in my sediment cores. To do this, I will need to collect and fix the diatoms in order to transport the samples back to my lab for identification as I am carry out field work overseas. Could anyone help to advise me how to: 1. Collect the benthic diatoms for the sediment surface of my cores? 2. How to fix the diatoms - probably using Lugols? 3. How to extract the diatoms from the sediment, should I do this before or after fixing in Lugols? 4. I will need to use a light micrscope to identify the diatoms. How should I go about doing this? Thanks

Hi, I am trying to find a protocol for a modified Berthelot ammonia assay using salicylate and a catalyst. I am struggling to find a protocol that describes the individual reagent recipes and the precise protocol to follow for the assay such as; How much of each reagent to add, when to add each reagent, how to long to leave the sample to process in each step? I am hoping to use a method that does now require a water bath and allows the reaction to occur at room temperature with the use of a catalsyt. I will also be using it on seawater samples so I will need to add some component to help avoid interference for metals or precipitate formation. Could anybody help with providing such a protocol through the work they have done please?

Hi, I am running an experiment and I want to measure the water content and organic matter content of my sediment cores. I am currently working as a research visitor and the lab I am at does not have access to an oven or muffle furnace. The manager has suggested I freeze dry the samples to measure water content. Could I then transport the freeze dried sediment samples back to my home land and measure the organic matter content through Loss-on-ignition? Or will the freeze dryer process interfere with the organic matter content? Thanks