Annual variation of dissolved free primary amines in estuarine water and sediment

Abstract

The concentration of dissolved free primary amines (DFPA), determined as fluorescamine positive material, was quantified during a 1 yr period of a small estuary. In the water, the concentration of DFPA ranged from 1.8 .mu.M in winter, to 26.5 .mu.M in summer. In the sediment, from 16-56 .mu.M of DFPA occurred. The concentration varied with depth and season, and in summer months a maximum of DFPA was observed in the redox discontinuity layer. The DFPA peak in water and sediment coincided with maximum of the macrophytal biomass. About 80% of the fluorescamine positive material was identified as amino acids. Origin and distribution of primary amines in the estuarine environment are discussed.