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Measurement of organic-35S and organic-S in lake sediments: Methodological considerations

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Abstract

Three protocols for the determination of inorganic and organic sulfur fractions were tested for their suitability to estimate total indigenous organic sulfur (Sorg) and35Sorg formed from added35SO4 2− in sediments of chemically dilute lakes in the ELA. The protocols tested have all been reported in the literature. It was found that two protocols involving sequential analyses for S fractions following acid treatment gave estimates of both Sorg and35Sorg up to 87% lower than a non-sequential protocol. The low estimates were largely due to hydrolysis and solubilization of solid phase S which was then removed in a rinsing step. The non-sequential protocol, in which total reduced inorganic sulfur and total sulfur were determined on separate aliquots, is recommended as the most reliable of the three. Individual analyses in this protocol were verified for these lake sediments using a variety of S standards.

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Author notes

  1. J. A. Amaral

    Present address: Department of Natural Resource Sciences (Microbiology Unit), Macdonald Campus of McGill University, 21, 111 Lakeshore Rd., H9X 3V9, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    J. A. Amaral

  2. University of Manitoba, Canada

    C. A. Kelly

  3. Flett Research, Ltd., 440 DeSalaberry Ave., R2L 0X7, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    R. J. Flett

Authors
  1. J. A. Amaral
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  2. C. A. Kelly
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  3. R. J. Flett
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Amaral, J.A., Kelly, C.A. & Flett, R.J. Measurement of organic-35S and organic-S in lake sediments: Methodological considerations. Biogeochemistry 23, 61–78 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002923

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002923

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