A Convenient Determination Method of Total Sulfur in Environmental and Biological Samples

Abstract

Oxidative digestion of a sample with H₂O₂ using a high-pressure double-vessel bomb was followed by ion-chromatographic determination of SO₄ ^2- providing a convenient analytical method for total S in a variety of environmental samples. The reliability of this method was supported by the quantitative recoveries of sulfur from sediments spiked with various sulfur compounds (elemental S. FeS, FeS₂, L-cystine, and dibenzothiophene) as well as environmental certified reference samples, including 11 biological (plant: 6, animal: 5) and 3 non-biological (sediment: 2, vehicle exhaust dust: 1) samples. The method was applied to several samples (soils, sediments, humic and fulvic acids, aquatic bryophytes, and suspended marine particulates) from S-rich environments as a contrast to those from normal environments. Since the method allows simultaneous and labor-saving digestion of many samples, it may be useful for routine analysis of sulfur, despite the relatively long time (more than 6 h) is required.

Key Words:

• Total sulfur
• high-pressure bomb
• wet digestion
• ion chromatography
• certified reference materials
• environmental samples