A simple and efficient method for the solid‐phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE‐DOM) from seawater

A simple protocol is presented for the solid‐phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE‐DOM) from seawater using commercially prepacked cartridges. The method does not require major instrumentation and can be performed in the field. Modified styrene divinyl benzene polymer type sorbents (Varian PPL and ENV) and sorbents of a silica structure bonded with different hydrocarbon chains (Varian C8, C18, C18OH, and C18EWP) were considered. Except for C18OH, which heavily contaminated the samples, none of the sorbents leached significant amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or nitrogen (DON). Samples from the North Brazil shelf with strong mixing gradients of terrigenous and marine DOM were used to…