Occurrence of surface polysulfides during the interaction between ferric (hydr)oxides and aqueous sulfide.

Polysulfides are often referred to as key reactants in the sulfur cycle, especially during the interaction of ferric (hydr)oxides and sulfide, forming ferrous-sulphide minerals. Despite their potential relevance, the extent of polysulfide formation and its relevance for product formation pathways remains enigmatic. We applied cryogenic X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and wet chemical analysis to study sulfur oxidation products during the reaction of goethite and lepidocrocite with aqueous sulfide at different initial Fe/S molar ratios under anoxic conditions at neutral pH. The higher reactivity of lepidocrocite leads to faster and higher electron turnover compared to goethite. We were able to demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of surface-associated polysulfides being the main oxidation products in the presence of both minerals, with a predominance of disulfide (S2(2-)(surf)), and elemental sulfur. Concentrations of aqueous polysulfide species were negligible (<1%). With prior sulfide fixation by zinc acetate, the surface-associated polysulfides could be precipitated as zerovalent sulfur (S°), which was extracted by methanol thereafter. Of the generated S°, 20-34% were associated with S2(2-)(surf). Varying the Fe/S ratio revealed that surface polysulfide formation only becomes dominant when the remaining aqueous sulfide concentration is low (<0.03 mmol L(-1)). We hypothesize these novel surface sulfur species, particularly surface disulfide, to act as pyrite precursors. We further propose that these species play an overlooked role in the sulfur cycle.