Photochemical production of methyl iodide in seawater

Abstract

It is generally accepted that methyl iodide is a major contributor to the flux of iodine from the ocean to the atmosphere, but its sources in the ocean are largely unknown, an exception being production by certain species of coastal macrophytic algae. Preliminary results reported here indicate production of methyl iodide in filtered seawater that has been irradiated with either sunlight or an artificial light source having a spectral output closely approximating to sunlight at sea level. The production was enhanced when the water samples were deoxygenated and by the addition of iodide to this water. The results appear to be consistent with a mechanism involving reaction between photochemically produced methyl radicals and iodine atoms. It is estimated that the process is capable of making a significant contribution to global iodine fluxes.