title: Rapid method for the radioisotopic analysis of gaseous end products of anaerobic metabolism.
abstract: A gas chromatographic procedure for the simultaneous analysis of (14)C-labeled and unlabeled metabolic gases from microbial methanogenic systems is described. H(2), CH(4), and CO(2) 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 (14)CH(4) formation from H(2) and (14)CO(2) by Methanosarcina barkeri.
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000592:standards; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005561:Formates / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D008722:Methods; D012505:Sarcina / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005561:Formates; D005740:Gases; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D002482:Cellulose; D008697:Methane