Method for extracting elemental sulfur in environmental water and its application to blue tide samples from Tokyo Bay, Japan

• DOI: 10.1007/s44211-025-00717-9
• Publication Date: 2025-01-24T09:58:54Z
• Authors: Shogo Sugahara; Hiroto Higa; Mitsuki Iwama; Yoshiyuki Nakamura; Tetsunori Inoue; Yukiko Senga; Michiko Egawa; Yasushi Seike

Abstract A simple method for determining elemental sulfur in environmental water was developed and applied to seawater samples collected immediately after the occurrence of blue tides Tokyo Bay. To investigate concentration extraction methods, artificial quantitatively produced by oxidizing a sulfide solution with an iodine solution, then used as standard reagent experiments. concentrate sample, glass filter paper (GF/F) collect sulfur. The extracted using n -hexane, main component petroleum ether; however, recovery from wet low, remained so even when dried. We, therefore, mixture -hexane acetone solvent, which is hydrophilic organic succeeded recovering more than 90% paper. Using this solvent mixture, we quantified tide, detected 0.36–0.38 mgS L –1 near-surface layer. We also found that concentrations were higher surface layer bottom Therefore, demonstrated quantification important better understand tide phenomenon. Graphical abstract