Emission of iodine containing volatiles by selected microalgae species

Abstract

Abstract. In this study we present the results of an incubation study of different phytoplankton samples in F/2 aqueous media treated with elevated ozone levels. Halocarbon measurements show that the samples tested released bromoform and different iodocarbons including iodomethane, iodochloromethane and diiodomethane. Iodide and iodate levels in the liquid phase were representative of concentrations of surface water in a natural environment. Measurement of volatile iodine (I2) emissions from two diatom samples (Mediopyxis helysia and Porosira glacialis) and the background sample (F/2-medium from locally seawater), showed that the quantity of I2 evolved depends on the ozone concentration in the air. This behaviour was assumed to be caused by the oxidation reaction mechanism of iodine with ozone. The I2 emission flux agrees with model calculations at different iodide concentrations. The I2 emission of a natural plankton concentrate sample was, however, very low compared to other samples and showed no dependence on ozone. The reason for this was shown to be the low iodide concentration in the algae suspension, which seems to be the limiting factor in the oxidative formation of I2.