Improving Seagrass Grinding for Nutrient Analysis using the Precellys2

Instrument: Precellys® 24 Dual

Sample:  Dried seagrass

Protocol:

  • Precellys kits: CKMix50_7mL (KT03961-1-306.7)
  • Samples: 15 dried seagrass blades cut into pieces
  • Run the Precellys24-Dual at 5000 rpm, 1x15 sec
  • Seagrass samples are dried in a oven at 65°C for 48 hours. The dried samples are transferred into 7mL Precellys tubes and ground into powder.

Results:

Seagrass blades were collected (Figure 1A) for nutrient content analysis along a 1-6 meter distance from the artificial reefs. Samples were dried in an oven at 65ºC for 48 hours, and then ground into a fine powder using the Precellys24-Dual (Figure 1B) or mortar and pestle. Although percentage phosphorus concentration was not significantly changed, the time spent on sample processing was 15 seconds/6 seagrass samples using the Precellys24-Dual vs. 25 minutes/sample using mortar and pestle (Figure 1C).

The Precellys24-Dual significantly decreases the time spent on sample preparation, increases the nutrient yield, and gives highly reproducible results.

 
Seagrass samples before (A) and after grinding on the Precellys24-Dual (B). Total phosphorus content was obtained after grinding using mortar and pestle OR the Precellys24-Dual (C).