Sources and sinks of low molecular weight organic carbonyl compounds in seawater

Abstract Results from laboratory studies indicated that low molecular weight (LMW) carbonyl compounds, especially formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and glyoxal, can be formed in seawater by photochemical processes. Once formed, these compounds appear to be readily consumed by biota. These results suggest that concentrations of LMW carbonyl compounds should undergo diurnal variations in the illuminated layer of the sea. In support of this, diurnal fluctuations of LMW carbonyl concentrations were observed in humic-rich surface waters off the west coast of Florida over a three day sampling period using a shipboard HPLC system. Fluctuations in acetaldehyde were particularly strong and reproducible, with steady night-time concentrations of 2–3 nM and day-time concentrations reaching a maximum of 20–30 nM in the early afternoon. In contrast, diurnal fluctuations in formaldehyde were less distinct, ranging from 15 to 50 nM. The laboratory and field results are discussed in terms of biotic/abiotic sources and sinks of LMW carbonyl compounds in surface seawater. It is speculated that photooxidative cleavage of biologically refractory dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater to yield LMW organic fragments, such as carbonyl compounds, may be important in the breakdown and geochemical cycling of DOM in the ocean.