The Sulfur Cycle: An Overview of Processes and Importance
1. SULFUR CYCLE
BY :
1. UMI RAIHANAH BINTI MUHAMAD SAM
(E15A0310)
2. NURHIDAYAH BINTI SAHARIZAN (E15A0216)
3. NURUL NAJIDAH BT MUSTAPA (E15A0237)
4. MICHELLE ANAK SLAN (E15A0103)
5. MUHAMMAD KHAIRUL ARIF BIN AHAMAD
(E15A0119)
2. An overview of the sulfur cycle
The sulfur cycle is the collection of
processes by which sulfur moves to
and from minerals (including the
waterwastes) and living system
3. Did you know?
Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element
in the environment,with atomic number
16. It is a bright yellow crystalline solid in
its normal state,with most of it stored
underground in rocks and minerals and
in ocean floor deposits.
4. All about sulfur
• 10th most abundant element in the universe.
• Found in rocks or buried deep in the ocean in
oceanic sediments.
• Occurs in combination with several metals
such as, PbS and HgS.
• A brittle yellow, tasteless and odorless non-
metallic element.
• Present in proteins, amino acids, vitamins and
enzymes necessary for plants and animals.
6. SULFUR CYCLE
The sulfur cycle is the collection of
processes by which sulfur moves to and
from minerals (including the
waterways) and living systems.
7.
8. The Importance Of Sulfur
• Sulfur cycle is an important element of industrial process.
• Sulfur dioxide (S02) is used as a bleaching agent and is used to
bleach wood pulp.
• Sulfur dioxide used in preservation to kill molds and and
bacteria.
• Sulfur is found in every living cell (amino acid)
9. CONT.
• Sulfur also has been used as a medicine.
• In the 1940s, sulfur-containing drugs-sulfa drugs-were
commonly used to treat infectious diseases
• A component of penicillin-class antibiotics.
• Medication for dandruff and can be used to treat acne and
other skin disorder.
10. Positive effects of sulfur cycle
• Used in many industrial uses example in
manifacturing including chemichal, medicine,
plastic, paper and other products.
• Also serve many functions in plants such as used
in formation of amino acid, protein and oil.
• Used in chlorophyll formation. Promotes
nodulation in legumes, help develop and activate
certain enzymes and vitamins.
• Sulphur also benefits in human health.
11. Negative effects of sulfur cycle
• Produce acid rain.
• Effects of acid rain: 1) Soil
-Increasing the acidity of
the soil.
-Slow the growth of
vulnerable forest.
2) Water
-Lower ph and increasing the
aluminium concentration in
surface water
-Eliminate insects life and some fish
species
13. ACID DEPOSITION CASE STUDIES
• Background information:
I. Since 1st centaury 1993, the Czech Republic has become a
separate state along with Slovakia, both states being previously
known as Czechoslovakia
II. Key facts on the Czech Republic:
Population : 10.3 million
Size : 78.866 km²
Capital : Prague (1.2 million population)
Neighbors : Germany, Austria, Solvakia, Poland
Climate : four season
Average altitude : 450m above sea level
Air quality : Generally poor,
Acid deposition : One of the highest acid deposition levels in
Europe
15. Effects of Acid Deposition on Forests
In Czech
• Around one third of the Czech Republic is
covered in forest and so timber is a major
economic resource. The high levels of acid
deposition experienced over recent decades
have had serious damaging effects on both
broadleaf and coniferous trees in the Czech
Republic.
16. CONT.
• The European Forest Damage Survey results
for 2000 show that 52% of all trees in the
Czech Republic are classified as moderately to
severely damaged (trees with more than 25%
loss of leaves or needles). The trees most
affected are Norway spruce (Picea abies) in
the mountainous area of the country where
soil acidification and acidic deposition have
resulted in the loss of 100,000 hectares of
forest.
18. Control and Policy
• The Czech Republic are committed to reducing sulphur
emissions through the 1994 UNECE Protocol 'Further
Reduction of Sulphur Emissions'. This Protocol requires
the Czech Republic to reduce sulphur emissions by 50%
by the year 2000, 60% by 2005 and 72% by 2010 (all
based on 1980 levels). To date, the country is on target
to achieve this level of emissions reduction.
• The Government has also introduced counter measures
to reduce air pollution during smog conditions. These
include limiting car use and the use of high quality coal
in power stations at such times.