Detection of elementary sulphur in freshwater sediments

• Published in: Environmental pollution. Series B. Chemical and physical Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 155 - 160
• Main Authors: Dévai, István, Heim, Csaba, Wittner, Ilona, Dévai, György, Dinya, Zoltán, Harangi, János, Szöór, Gyula, Máté, Ferenc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 1984; Applied Science Publishers
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Applied sciences; aquatic organisms; environmental degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Pollution; Soil and sediments pollution; waste management; Chemical analysis; Lakes; Stream; Soil pollution; Sulfur; Sediments; Sewage treatment plant
• ISSN: 0143-148X
• DOI: 10.1016/0143-148X(84)90025-9

As part of a larger study by our team of workers, chlorinated hydrocarbons in the sediments of the shallow Lake Balaton, the River Zala and two open-air BMKO-type sewage treatment plants were studied by gas chromatography. In addition to peaks relating to the presence of PCBs, an all-screening peak was found (with 3·78 min retention time), especially in fresh sediment samples. Later, gas chromatographic, infrared spectrophotometric and GC/MS analyses proved that the peak was caused by elementary sulphur, for which data are rare and incomplete in the hydrobiological literature. Further studies confirmed that, at least in shallow waters, different sulphur forms, including elementary sulphur, may be more important, both qualitatively and quantitatively, than previously realised, in energy cycling and diagenesis in sediments. There is thus an urgent need to investigate the sulphur cycle, previously little studied, compared with phosphorus and nitrogen.