Spatial distribution of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur species in coastal marine sediments Hiroshima Bay, Japan

Satoshi Asaoka; Akira Umehara; Sosuke Otani; Naoki Fujii; Tetsuji Okuda; Satoshi Nakai; Wataru Nishijima; Koji Takeuchi; Hiroshi Shibata; Waqar Azeem Jadoon; Shinjiro Hayakawa

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.06.042

Spatial distribution of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur species in coastal marine sediments Hiroshima Bay, Japan

Mar Pollut Bull. 2018 Aug:133:891-899. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.06.042. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Research Center for Inland Seas, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminami, Higashinada, Kobe 658-0022, Japan. Electronic address: s-asaoka@maritime.kobe-u.ac.jp.
² Environmental Research and Management Center, Hiroshima University, 1-5-3, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8513, Japan.
³ Department of Technological Systems, Osaka Prefecture University College of Technology, 26-12, Saiwaicho, Neyagawa, Osaka 572-8572, Japan.
⁴ Institute of Lowland and Marine Research, Saga University, 1, Honjyo, Saga 840-8502, Japan.
⁵ Faculty of Science & Technology, Ryukoku University, 1-5 Yokotani, Setaooe, Ootsu, Shiga 520-2194, Japan.
⁶ Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.
⁷ National Institute of Technology, Hiroshima College, 4272-1, Higashino, Oosakikamishima, Toyota, Hiroshima 725-0231, Japan.
⁸ Research Center for Inland Seas, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminami, Higashinada, Kobe 658-0022, Japan.

PMID: 30041392
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.06.042

Abstract

This study aims to reveal spatial distribution of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur species in marine sediments in Hiroshima Bay, Japan, by direct analyses using a combination of detection tubes and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. In summer and autumn, the hydrogen sulfide concentration ranged from <0.1 to 4 mg-S L^-1. In this study, only hydrogen sulfide was observed in autumn and at two stations in summer. In contrast, some earlier studies reported in all seasons in Hiroshima Bay the presence of acid volatile sulfide, which is used as a proxy of sulfide content. The sulfur species in sediments were mainly identified as sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, and pyrite. Thiosulfate was a minor component compared to the other sulfur species. The formation of pyrite and sulfur derived from hydrogen sulfide oxidation played an important role in the scavenging of hydrogen sulfide.

Keywords: Detection tube; Eutrophication; Pyrite; Sediment; Sulfur cycle; X-ray absorption fine structure.

MeSH terms

Bays / chemistry*
Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
Hydrogen Sulfide / analysis*
Japan
Oxidation-Reduction
Sulfur Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

Sulfur Compounds
Hydrogen Sulfide