GC/MS identification of organosulphur compounds in environmental samples

Twenty-one organosulphur compounds were detected in a survey of water, industrial effluent, sediment and fish samples, using automated gas chromatography/mass spectrometry developed for the identification of forty target semi-volatile and volatile organosulphur compounds. The compound classes detected in the environmental samples are three allotropes of sulphur, three thioethers, five sulphones, six thiophenes, one thiol, two sulphonamides and one thiazole. The compounds were detected in the approximate concentration range 0.1 to 2000 parts per billion (ppb). alpha,alpha-Dichlorodimethyl sulphone was detected in environmental samples subjected to biodegradation and chemical treatment.