HPLC method for the analysis of chlorophylls and carotenoids from marine phytoplankton

The quantitative determination of carotenoids, chlorophylls and their degradation products from marine phytoplankton was performed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Separated and quantified chlorophylls and their degraded products are chlorophyll a, b, c, chlorophyllide a, phaeophytin a, b and phaeophorbide a. Concentrations of six carotenoids including fucoxanthin, 19'-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin, 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxan-thin, prasinoxanthin, alloxanthin, zoaxanthin/lutein were also determined from natural field samples by absorbance. Results of pigment analysis of field samples collected from the southern waters of the East Sea on October 8th, 1996 were reported. Concentration of chi a ranged from 7.2 to 180.4 ng/1. Concentration of chi b and chi c ranged from 22.7 to 53.7 ng/1 and from 3.3 to 58.5 ng/1, respectively. Significant concentrations of phaeophytin a, and chlorophyllide a were also detected at different depths. Fucoxanthin, 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin and zoaxanthin/lutein were the most abundant carotenoids and 19'-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin, prasinoxanthin and alloxanthin were also detected relatively at low concentrations. These results of pigment analyses suggest predominance of diatom, prymnesiophytes and cyanobacteria and presence of crysophyte, green algae (prasinophyte and prochlorophyte), and cryptophyte in the study area on October 8th, 1996, We report prymnesiophyte for the first time as an important biomass component of marine phytoplankton in the study area. Vertical profiles for the concentration changes of the major pigments were also given.