A simple pore‐water sampler for coarse, sandy sediments of low porosity

Abstract

A simple, inexpensive, and highly efficient centrifuge tube allows nearly complete extraction of interstitial water from coarse, sandy sediments with porosities as low as 32%. The method is fast (5 min), efficient (55–92% of the available water is obtained), reliable, and can be peformed on board ship at only 1,500 × g . The efficiency of the method permits a high sampling resolution (millimeter scale). The centrifuge tube is made of polyethylene and can be used for trace metal determinations after cleaning with acid. Due to a built‐in filter, pore waters are clean and need not be filtered afterward, thus reducing the risk of contamination and possible oxidation artifacts.