Sulfide Sulfur in Water Objects with Different Mineralization

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide, like other sulfides, is formed in aquatic environments due to sulphate reduction processes and putrefactive decomposition of organic matter of bottom sediments, as well as due to the influx of wastewater containing it. It is toxic for water objects used for fishery and drinking water supply. It decreases organoleptic properties and water quality and causes death of hydrobionts, while this gas is an important therapeutic component or water objects with therapeutic mud. The authors have analyzed the literature and original data on the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in freshwater reservoirs and streams, as well as in water objects with elevated mineralization (seas, bays, estuaries, and mud lakes) of the Russian Federation. Water mineralization in the studied water objects varies from <1 g/dm³ to >400 g/dm³, and dissolved oxygen varies from <0.6 to 10.0 mg/dm³. The total hydrogen sulfide content of water (H₂S, HS^–, S^2–) varies within a wide range from 0.0 to 50 mg/dm³. Freshwater and streams relative to water objects with a high salinity are characterized by lower concentrations of sulfide sulfur. The concentration of sulfide sulfur (∑H₂S) in water has a close inverse relation to dissolved oxygen. In addition to the natural factors and processes that affect the distribution of sulfide sulfur concentration in water, the pollution and eutrophication of water bodies also play a major role. For instance, the salt Big Tambukan Lake shows an inverse relationship between the concentrations of ∑H₂S in water and the depth of bottom sediment, and this gas is chiefly linked to sulfides.