Temperature-induced changes in the formation of sulphide in a marine sediment

The influence of temperature upon sulphide formation was investigated with sediment sulphureta incubated at constant temperatures in the laboratory. The concentrations of sulphate, sulphide and pyrite were periodically measured and it was found that, in addition to a decrease in the rate of sulphide formation with temperature, there was a changes in the origin of the sulphide. Thus, at 5° and 10°C, the majority of sulphide originated from organic sulphur, while sulphate contributed the greater proportion of the sulphide at 20° and 30°C. Such changes presumably reflect those in the natural enviroment during winter and summer.