Preliminary Measurements of Biogenic Sulfur-Containing Gas Emissions From Soils

Abstract

Some of the results of a preliminary field study using a dynamic emission chamber technique to determine the composition and flux of sulfur gases from a variety of soils within the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Sulfate Regional Experiment (SURE) regional study area in eastern United States are reported. The measured sulfur flux at each of the six sampling sites, when projected to an annual average (unadjusted for the seasonal ranges of ambient temperature), ranged from 0.002 to 152g S/m/sup 2//yr. The highest measured sulfur fluxes of 381, 271, 201, and 137 g S/m/sup 2//yr were found in several small, unique areas at Cox's Landing tidal flat. The relatively unpolluted saline marshy area of Core Sound, Cedar Island, NC may represent a more significant area-wide source of biogenic sulfur flux than did Lockwood Folly Inlet, NC. Further studies will be conducted in these areas. Most published discussions of the nature, sources, and fate of biogenic sulfur compounds have proposed H/sub 2/S as the primary product of biogenic activity. Other authors have suggested that carboxyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide should be included. The data reported herein suggest that a larger array of biogenic sulfur-containing compounds should be considered. In fact, formore » some soils and conditions, CS/sub 2/ or dimethyl disulfide emissions may provide a sulfur contribution equal to or greater than of H/sub 2/S.« less