Design and development of a simple laboratory model to detect (15)N enrichment in cyanobacterial biomass and extra cellular ammonia using (15)N gas.

A laboratory scale working model that could detect the (15)N enrichment in cyanobacterial biomass and extracellular ammonia, using (15)N gas under in vitro conditions was designed and fabricated. Using the model, (15)N enrichment of 0.48% atom excess was detected in the cyanobacterial biomass on the 30 d after inoculation. The (15)N enrichment increased linearly in the extracellular ammoniacal fraction from the 20 d onward. The model would prove to be a useful tool to quantify the extent of (15)N enrichment under in vitro conditions using (15)N gas.