Rapid and high-precision measurement of sulfur isotope and sulfur concentration in sediment pore water by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

• We investigate how concentration effect influences the measured δ34S values.
• We construct a correction curve to correct measured δ34S values.
• We apply the correction curve to AS solutions and pore water samples successfully.
• Simultaneous measurement of sulfur concentrations is available.

We have developed a technique for the rapid, precise and accurate determination of sulfur isotopes (δ34S) by MC–ICP–MS applicable to a range of sulfur-bearing solutions of different sulfur content. The 10 ppm Alfa-S solution (ammonium sulfate solution, working standard of the lab of the authors) was used to bracket other Alfa-S solutions of different concentrations and the measured δ34SV−CDTδ34SV−CDT values of Alfa-S solutions deviate from the reference value to varying degrees (concentration effect). The stability of concentration effect has been verified and a correction curve has been constructed based on Alfa-S solutions to correct measured δ34SV−CDTδ34SV−CDT values. The curve has been applied to AS solutions (dissolved ammonium sulfate from the lab of the authors) and pore water samples successfully, validating the reliability of our analytical method. This method also enables us to measure the sulfur concentration simultaneously when analyzing the sulfur isotope composition. There is a strong linear correlation (R2>0.999R2>0.999) between the sulfur concentrations and the intensity ratios of samples and the standard. We have constructed a regression curve based on Alfa-S solutions and this curve has been successfully used to determine sulfur concentrations of AS solutions and pore water samples. The analytical technique presented here enable rapid, precise and accurate S isotope measurement for a wide range of sulfur-bearing solutions – in particular for pore water samples with complex matrix and varying sulfur concentrations. Also, simultaneous measurement of sulfur concentrations is available.

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