A Hydrophobic Large-Volume Sampler for Collecting Aquatic Surface Microlayers: Characterization and comparison with the Glass Plate Method

Abstract

The atmosphere-water interface represents a vital biological habitat and a collection point for natural and anthropogenic materials originating in the atmosphere and the water column. A Teflon-coated aluminum rotating drum sampler was constructed and tested. This sampler rapidly collects large-volume samples of the aquatic surface microlayer (uppermost 34 .mu.m). The collection characteristics of the sampler are similar to those of the more time-consuming glass plate technique. Samples from estuarine, coastal, and offshore areas are generally highly enriched in selected organic compounds, metals, and microorganisms as compared with the subsurface bulk seawater. The sampler provides an efficient means of collecting hydrophobic pollutants from the water surface.