Determination of trace metals forming large molecular complexes in natural waters as estimated by ultrafiltration/liquid chromatography/atomic spectroscopy

Concentration of trace metals forming complexes with large organic molecules in natural waters have been determined. Natural water samples (sea water and lake water) were filtered through a membrane filter (pore size: 0.45 μm) just after sampling, and concentrated by ultrafiltration. The concentrated natural water samples were fractionated by high performance gel filtration chromatography, and metal ion concentration in each fraction was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and/or by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Concentration of zinc forming large molecular complexes (LMC) in sea water was 0.07 ng mL^-1, and that in lake water was 0.06 ng mL^-1. Copper, iron, vanadium, and molybdenum forming LMC in natural waters were also determined. The present results suggest the existences of LMC-forming metal ions, some of which may be metalloenzymes dissolved in natural waters.