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Occurrence of particle‐bound polysulfides and significance of their reaction with organic matters in marine sediments
Author(s) -
Vairavamurthy Appathurai,
Mopper Kenneth,
Taylor Barrie F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/92gl01995
Subject(s) - polysulfide , anoxic waters , organic matter , sulfur , sulfide , particulates , environmental chemistry , total organic carbon , particle (ecology) , phase (matter) , carbon fibers , chemistry , aqueous two phase system , dissolved organic carbon , geology , materials science , oceanography , organic chemistry , electrode , composite number , electrolyte , composite material
Inorganic polysulfides (S n 2− , where n > 1) contribute to the incorporation of sulfur into organic matter in reducing sediments, especially when conditions exist for partial oxidation of sulfide. Inorganic polysulfides have been assumed previously to exist only in the aqueous phase. Our results suggest that a significant fraction of inorganic polysulfides is bound to the particulate‐phase of sediments and can react with carbon‐carbon unsaturated bonds in organic matter, thereby attaching it to the particulate phase through polysulfide linkages. This mechanism may affect the bioavailability of the reactive organic matter in sediments and hence may play an important role in the preservation of organic matter in anoxic marine sediments.