This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nelson, D. R. Articles by Zeikus, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Nelson, D. R. Articles by Zeikus, J. G. Agricola Articles by Nelson, D. R. Articles by Zeikus, J. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1974 August; 28(2): 258-261
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Rapid Method for the Radioisotopic Analysis of Gaseous End Products of Anaerobic Metabolism

Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

ABSTRACT

A gas chromatographic procedure for the simultaneous analysis of ¹⁴C-labeled and unlabeled metabolic gases from microbial methanogenic systems is described. H₂, CH₄, and CO₂ were separated within 2.5 min on a Carbosieve B column and were detected by thermal conductivity. Detector effluents were channeled into a gas proportional counter for measurement of radioactivity. This method was more rapid, sensitive, and convenient than gas chromatography-liquid scintillation techniques. The gas chromatography-gas proportional counting procedure was used to characterize the microbial decomposition of organic matter in anaerobic lake sediments and to monitor ¹⁴CH₄ formation from H₂ and ¹⁴CO₂ by Methanosarcina barkeri.