Fractionation of sulfur isotopes by sediment adsorption of sulfate

Adsorption studies with sediment from the Bay of Quinte (Lake Ontario) indicate that the adsorption isotherm for sulfate concentration greater than 20 mg/l can be described by a Langmuir-type equation. The accompanying changes in δ³⁴S of the solutions range from +0.9 to +6.0‰ indicating enrichment of³²S in the sediments. The corresponding isotopic fractionation between the adsorbed sulfate and the sulfate remaining in solution ranges from ?10 to ?24‰, the larger fractionations being associated with low sulfate concentrations. The adsorbed sulfate is shown to significantly afftect the isotopic composition of the sediment in contact with the sulfate-bearing solution. The desorption of adsorbed sulfate is considered a possible mechanism for enriching natural freshwaters with³²S.