DETERMINATION OF ORGANICALLY BOUND SULFUR IN SWAMP AND TERRESTRIAL WATERS BY CONTINUOUS-FLOW OXIDATION AND ION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Aqueous samples were mixed with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide and exposed to ultraviolet radiation in a continuous flow system. The organosulfur compounds were oxidized to oxalate, carbon dioxide, and sulfate. Subsequently, the sulfate ion was separated from the other an ions including oxalate by automated ion chromatography using anion col umns, carbonate eluent, and conductivity detector. By comparing the su lfate concentrations before and after oxidation, the amount of organic ally bound sulfur could be calculated. This procedure has been success fully applied to the routine analysis of over 2000 swamp and terrestri al waters submitted by the Limnology Section, Water Resources Branch, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy.