Reviewing problems and possibilities for the analysis of phytate and polyphosphates

Abstract

The presence of polyphosphates and inositol phosphates (a. o. phytate) remains a much-discussed subject in limnological literature. Their determination is not yet undisputed, and several of the methods used are not very good. Therefore I have reviewed existing methodology and suggested some improvements. These include anion exchange chromatography for phytate analysis and extraction with trichloroacetic acid for polyphosphates analysis. The subject is important, as polyphosphates are metabolically active, while phytate is much less so and may even accumulate in sediments in which much FeOOH is present.