Fractionation of sulfur isotopes during thiosulfate reduction by desulfovibrio desulfuricans

Sulfur isotope fractionation during reduction of thiosulfate was investigated with growing batch cultures of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans CSN (DSM 9104) at 30 degreesC. The sulfide produced was depleted in 34S by 10 per thousand as compared to total thiosulfate sulfur. The depletion was equal to that during sulfate reduction under similar conditions. The two sulfur atoms of the thiosulfate molecule were affected differently by fractionation. Sulfide produced from sulfonate sulfur was depleted by 15.4 per thousand, sulfide produced from sulfane sulfur by 5.0 per thousand.