Determination of sulphide, polysulphide, thiocarbonates and sulphur by extraction with tributyltin hydroxide, and of thiosulphate by hydrogenation

The methods presented involve the separation of sulphur compounds by means of a hexane solution of tributyltin hydroxide (TBT), followed by titration with o-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid in the presence of dithizone as indicator. Free sulphide is selectively extracted from strongly alkaline solution, whereas the polysulphides and thiocarbonates are extracted at pH 9-10. The polysulphide and thiocarbonate extracts decompose to form TBT-sulphide, sulphur and carbon disulphide. Treatment with sulphite, stannate(II), copper, vinyl cyanide and ethylenediamine, and hydrogenation with zinc and hydrobromic acid have been applied in the course of the analysis. The sulphur is determined by its attack on copper to form copper(I) sulphide which is subsequently dissolved in aqueous potassium cyanide solution and the sulphide separated by extraction.