Solid-phase fluorescence determination of chlorins in marine sediments

Chlorophyll degradation products are preserved in marine sediments over timescales of thousands of years. The production of chlorophyll in the water column is related to biological productivity, so chlorophyll degradation products (chlorins) preserved in marine sediments can be used as indicators of paleoproductivity. A new, rapid, non-destructive method of determining chlorin concentrations in marine sediments is presented. Potential interferences associated with the solid-phase fluorescence (SPF) method are explored using reference materials, yet this method compares favorably with spectroscopic and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods of analysis using marine sediments from Boston Harbor and the continental shelf off northwest Africa.