Aspects of Biochemical Sulphur Conversions in Sediments of a Shallow Soft Water Lake

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Abstract
Aspects of sulphur conversions in mineral sandy sediments from a shallow soft water lake were examined in vitro with addition of sodium sulphate. Quantitative aspects of sulphate reduction in the sediment were studied in relation to the sulphate content, nitrate and the amount of organic matter. Implications are given that the rate of sulphate reduction is limited by organic matter at in situ sulphate concentrations. The presence of significant amounts of nitrate reduced the sulphate reduction considerably. Sulphate reduction caused alkalinization of the ambient medium, supporting the consumption of 2 mol H+-ions per mol sulphate converted. The amount of iron present in the sediment was able to fix the major part of the sulphate produced by sulphate reduction. In the presence of oxygen, sulphides were rapidly oxidized and acidified the incubation medium to pH 5.6.