Lancis Sáez, Carlos, Tent-Manclus, Jose Enrique, Flores, José Abel
A new centrifugation/filtration technique to improve the observation of calcareous nannofossils under the scanning electron microscope
Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 2023, 41(1): 33-39
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10045/135107
DOI: 
ISSN: 1210-8049
Abstract: 
A new sediment sample preparation procedure for observing calcareous nannofossils using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is described. The new preparation technique is a moderately time-consuming technique that allows observation of the finest structural details of specimens in the SEM. It has two separate steps: 1) disaggregation employing H2O2 and an ultrasound bath, keeping the pH stable through the use of a NaCO3-HCO3 buffer solution; and 2) a filtration process that concentrates and cleans the nannofossils through use of a vacuum pump. To do this, previous techniques for improving the quality of SEM images were combined, aimed at avoiding dissolution in the process, for which a slow digestion of the organic matter was carried out using a buffered solution, adding centrifugation and controlled vacuum pumping in order to retain the coccoliths without affecting their preservation.
Keywords:Calcareous nannofossils, Preparation technique, Filtration technique, Scanning electron microscope
International Nannoplankton Association
info:eu-repo/semantics/article