Electrochemical evaluation of iron-binding ligands along the Australian GEOTRACES southwestern Pacific section (GP13)

In this work, we performed electrochemical investigations of Fe-binding ligands in water samples collected in autumn 2011 along the Australian GEOTRACES southwestern Pacific section (GP13, between 153°E and 170°W longitude along the 30°S line East of Australia, 0-1000 m depth). We determined the capacity of the bulk organic ligands to complex Fe using competitive ligand exchange-adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-AdCSV) with salicylaldoxime as the competing ligand. Two categories of organic ligands, humic substances (HS-like) and catalytically active polymers (Cat. P) were electrochemically quantified in order to better define the bulk of Fe-binding ligands. Finally, Fe speciation results have been linked to oceanographic data, phytoplankton biomass, and two groups of cyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus) which are prominent members of the phototrophic community in the study region. Across the section, higher total ligand concentrations over dissolved Fe concentrations were observed, as well as the predominance of “weak” Fe-binding ligands (log K’Fe’L