Manometric method for determining bicarbonate content in plant leaves.

A method is described for manometric determination of bicarbonate (as little as 0.25 μmoles) in leaves. Conditions such as optimum pH and inactivation of carbonic anhydrase are introduced to stabilize the bicarbonate. Crude leaf extracts are purified with chloroform and Darco G-60. An ionic mixture is separated from macromolecular compounds by elution from a column of Sephadex G-25. Carbon dioxide is released by acidifying the ionic mixture and is determined with a respirometer.