engleski

Electrochemical adhesion imaging of marine particles

Electrochemical adhesion imaging presents an approach for in situ characterization of microparticles in aqueous environments. Confined organic microparticles, such as vesicles, droplets and cells with fluid membranes can be characterized through appearance of well-defined adhesion signals due to their fast attachment, deformation and spreading at a charged aqueous mercury interface. On the other hand, gel microparticles with flexible 3D network do not form permanent contact with the electrode. The adhesion signals at the mercury electrode immersed in seawater capture the primary structure of microparticles. Incidents and shape of adhesion signals reflect particle size, concentration, polydispersity and reactivity. Major distinction in adhesion behavior between various classes of marine particles (unicellular algae, liposomes, droplets and polymer gels) in seawater was identified through appearance of adhesion signals at characteristic potentials of mercury/seawater interface. Advantages of this approach, as revealed from monitoring and mesocosmos experiments in the Northern Adriatic are single particle analysis, in situ fast sample processing preventing loss in primary particle structure.

vesicles; gel microparticles; electrochemical adhesion imaging

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