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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Sediment Core Sectioning and Extraction of Pore Waters under Anoxic Conditions
Published on: March 7, 2016
Sulfur speciation monitored in situ with solid state gold amalgam voltammetric microelectrodes: polysulfides as a
G W Luther1, B T Glazer, L Hohmann
1College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes 19958, USA. luther@udel.edu
Abstract:
Sulfur speciation was determined in real time in salt marsh microbial mats, subtidal sediments and hydrothermal vent diffuse flow waters using solid state gold-amalgam voltammetric microelectrodes. Chemical species were measured in situ without any sample manipulation or processing. The partially oxidized sulfur species detected were polysulfides, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and tetrathionate. Fe(III) oxidation of hydrogen sulfide does not occur within the mats where microbially mediated processes are responsible for oxidation of H2S. In sediments and diffuse flow vent waters, Fe(III) phases are the direct oxidant of H2S. Sulfur speciation determined in this work is due to in situ biogeochemical processes and is not due to artefacts of sample manipulation. The voltammetric data show that polysulfides are the first detectable intermediate during sulfide oxidation which is consistent with previous laboratory studies.
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