The use of chromium reduction in the analysis of reduced inorganic sulfur in sediments and shales

Abstract A sulfur analysis scheme employing the use of chromium reduction for the determination of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (pyrite + elemental sulfur + acid volatile monosulfides) in modern sediments and shales is presented. Exhaustive testing shows that chromium reduction does not reduce or liberate either organic sulfur or sulfate sulfur; making the method specific only to reduced inorganic sulfur phases. The high degree of specificity, ease of sample analysis, and excellent analytic precision should make this technique ideally suited for routine analysis of modern and ancient sediments.