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Sulfur is a ubiquitous element, which occurs in a wide range of oxidation states in environmental samples and in industrial applications. Synchrotron-based sulfur x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy have made possible speciation and mapping of sulfur compounds in intact samples. Analyses of marine-archaeological wood, e.g. from historical shipwrecks such as the Vasa and the Mary Rose, unexpectedly revealed selective accumulation of organosulfur (mostly thiols) in lignin-rich parts, in addition to particles of pyrite (FeS2) and other iron(II) sulfides. The results are used for developing conservation strategies. Theoretical interpretations and limitations in the analyses of the sulfur spectra are discussed. Also, studies of sulfur in plants and sediments are presented. References:
1. Sulfur accumulation in the timbers of King Henry VIII's warship Mary Rose: a pathway in the sulfur cycle of conservation concern, M. Sandström, F. Jalilehvand, E. Damian, Y. Fors, U. Gelius, M. Jones and Murielle Salomé. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., USA, 2005, 102, 14165–14170.
2. Sulfur and iron in shipwrecks cause conservation concerns, Y. Fors and M. Sandström, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2006, 35, 399-415.
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