Elemental sulfur at the pyrite surfaces: speciation and quantification

Abstract A new methodology, based on sulfur extraction with appropriate organic solvents and analyses using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy, is developed to identify and quantify elemental sulfur forms at pyrite surfaces. The comparison between hexane and methanol extraction allows the determination of two types of S 8 elemental sulfur: a fraction residing alone on the pyrite surface, and another fraction associated with hydrophilic superficial compounds like sulfate.