Assay of sulfur as triphenylphosphine sulfide by high performance liquid chromatography: application to studies of sulfur bioproduction and sulfur in marine sediments

A gas chromatographic (GC) method for sulfur assay based on derivatization with triphenylphosphine (TPP)_to form triphenylphosphine sulfide (TPPS) was modified for use with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sulfur was extracted from samples with CHCl3 and derivatized with TPP dissolved in HCHl3 containing 5% (w/v) phenol. Phenol promoted the reaction of TPP with sulfur and inhibited its reaction with oxygen to form TPPO, thus allowing derivatization in air. Air must be excluded in the GC method using toluene to extract and derivatize sulfur. Sulfur was assayed in marine sediments and in mixed cultures of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans with photosynthetic bacteria. Clorobium thiosufatophitum and Chromatium vinosum. Rapid sulfate reduction prevented initial attempts at obtaining sulfur-producing consortia. Sulfur-producing associations with C. vinosum were secured if large inocula of the photosynthetic bacterium were used. The biotechnology of sulfur production is discussed.