Comparison of Two Methods for Phytoplankton Chlorophyll-a Concentration Measurement

This study compared two simplified methods for phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration measurement-the hot ethanol method which use 90% hot ethanol as the chlorophyll a extraction agent and the cool acetone method which use 90% cool acetone as the chlorophyll a extraction agent. The hot ethanol method is used widely in the world now but the cool acetone method is normally used in China. The results show that the hot ethanol method has more advantages than the cool acetone method, which are faster and easier to handle, more complete extraction and lower toxic. There is significant statistical difference between these two methods. By using the formula Chla ethanol =1.261 Chla acetone -3.5, the cool acetone method data can be transfered to the hot ethanol method data.