Abstract
Extractable organic copper using C18 Sep-Pak cartridges was investigated in seawater after laboratory experiment showed that the (C18 Sep-Pak) cartridges were reliable, in open and coastal waters with normal levels of dissolved organic carbon, for the separation of a specific fraction of organo-copper complexes.Given that the Sep-Pak cartridges retain the hydrophobic fraction of the dissolved organic matter, this extraction technique was applied for studying the characteristics of this particular hydrophobic dissolved organic copper fraction (hDOCu) in the north-western Mediterranean waters. Surface distribution of hDOC is influenced by organic matter input from the river Rhone and its estuary as well as the physical processes affecting the primary productivity such as coastal upwelling. By correlating hDOCu concentrations with total dissolved copper and other hydrochemical data such as salinity and dissolved organic carbon, it was possible to examine the behaviour of hDOCu in the water masses of different sources and ages.Marine organic matter has been shown to have high complexing capacity. Productive superficial and intermediate waters as well as deep waters showed relatively high and comparable complexing capacity indicating that old organic matter may have strong complexing sites. (C) 2000 Academic Press.