Complex methodological approach to the studies of natural microlayers at the air/water interface

The investigations of sea-surface microlayers are crucial for better understanding of the mechanisms and physico-chemical processes at natural phase boundaries which play an important role in the marine environmental protection and global climate change. Sea-surface microlayers were studied in an original sample without any pretreatment and as ex-situ reconstructed films after previous extraction of the sample by organic solvents of different polarity. For physico-chemical characterization of natural and ex-situ reconstructed sea-surface microlayer samples a complex methodological approach was applied. Monolayer techniques, Brewster angle microscopy, reflection spectroscopy and electrochemical methods were used. Samples were collected from a Middle Adriatic eutrophicated sea-lake. Results were compared and discussed with respect to previously reported results obtained by analysing the samples from the same area and from the Northern Adriatic.