Gas chromatographic identification of sulfur gases in soil atmospheres

Abstract

Simple gas Chromatographic methods for identification of sulfur gases in soil atmospheres are described. They involve the use of a flame photometric detector fitted with a sulfur filter and of Teflon columns packed with Chromosorb T and Deactigel. The methods permit identification of 13 volatile sulfur compounds (sulfur dioxide, hydrogen Sulfide, carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, sulfur hexafluoride, methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, n-butyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, ethyl methyl sulfide, diethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and diethyl disulfide) in air containing trace (nanogram) amounts of these compounds, and they are not subject to interference by various gases known to be evolved from soils under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The Deactigel column is not required if the gas mixture analyzed does not contain hydrogen sulfide or carbonyl sulfide.