Methods in Molecular Biology (2020) 1980: 87–94
DOI 10.1007/7651_2017_104
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
Published online: 21 November 2017
Determining Inorganic and Organic Phosphorus
Jaana Koistinen, Mervi Sjo ¨ blom, and Kristian Spilling
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient for all microalgal species, and the main form of uptake is orthophosphate
(PO 4 ). In this chapter we present a colorimetric method for determining the PO 4 concentration and
dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) based on total phosphorus (TP) measurements. We also describe a
method for determining particulate organic phosphorus (POP) based on the same principles.
Keywords Orthophosphate, Particulate organic phosphorus, Total phosphorus
1 Introduction
In addition to nitrogen (see separate chapter), phosphorus (P) is
the main other nutrient that often limits microalgae growth in
natural environments. Algae are in general only able to use orthophosphate (PO 4 ), but some species are known to be able to use
organic forms to some extent [1].
Phosphorus inside the cells can be found, e.g., in the DNA and
RNA, and is as such critical for the growth machinery of algal cells.
Comparing different algae with different growth characteristics has
revealed that the internal ratio of carbon (C):nitrogen (N):phosphorus (P) is lower for species growing rapidly compared with
slow-growing species [2], and as such providing more phosphorus
than the much used Redfield ratio (106 C:16 N:1 P) might be
required to get maximum growth rates.
In this chapter we present a colorimetric method for determining
the PO 4 and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) based on total
phosphorus (TP) measurements [3, 4] and a method for determining
particulate organic phosphorus (POP) based on the same principles
[5]. The determination of TP is based on acid oxidation of organic
components with peroxodisulphate in an autoclave, releasing phosphorus as phosphate [3]. POP method involves baking at a high temperature
(to decompose organic phosphorus compounds) and hydrolysis of
The original version of this chapter was revised. The correction to this chapter is available at https://doi.org/10.
1007/7651_2019_253
87
DOI 10.1007/7651_2017_104
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
Published online: 21 November 2017
Determining Inorganic and Organic Phosphorus
Jaana Koistinen, Mervi Sjo ¨ blom, and Kristian Spilling
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient for all microalgal species, and the main form of uptake is orthophosphate
(PO 4 ). In this chapter we present a colorimetric method for determining the PO 4 concentration and
dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) based on total phosphorus (TP) measurements. We also describe a
method for determining particulate organic phosphorus (POP) based on the same principles.
Keywords Orthophosphate, Particulate organic phosphorus, Total phosphorus
1 Introduction
In addition to nitrogen (see separate chapter), phosphorus (P) is
the main other nutrient that often limits microalgae growth in
natural environments. Algae are in general only able to use orthophosphate (PO 4 ), but some species are known to be able to use
organic forms to some extent [1].
Phosphorus inside the cells can be found, e.g., in the DNA and
RNA, and is as such critical for the growth machinery of algal cells.
Comparing different algae with different growth characteristics has
revealed that the internal ratio of carbon (C):nitrogen (N):phosphorus (P) is lower for species growing rapidly compared with
slow-growing species [2], and as such providing more phosphorus
than the much used Redfield ratio (106 C:16 N:1 P) might be
required to get maximum growth rates.
In this chapter we present a colorimetric method for determining
the PO 4 and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) based on total
phosphorus (TP) measurements [3, 4] and a method for determining
particulate organic phosphorus (POP) based on the same principles
[5]. The determination of TP is based on acid oxidation of organic
components with peroxodisulphate in an autoclave, releasing phosphorus as phosphate [3]. POP method involves baking at a high temperature
(to decompose organic phosphorus compounds) and hydrolysis of
The original version of this chapter was revised. The correction to this chapter is available at https://doi.org/10.
1007/7651_2019_253
87