Sulfur mass-independent fractionation during SO2 photolysis in low-temperature/pressure atmospheres

Mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes (MIF-S) has been observed in Archean sedimentary rocks and modern stratospheric sulfate aerosol (SSA). Photolysis of SO2 is known to cause significant MIF-S and could be related to the observed MIF-S. However, previous experiments with SO2 photolysis at room temperature, or at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure, did not quantitatively explain quadruple sulfur isotopic compositions (δ34S, Δ33S, and Δ36S values) of the Archean sedimentary rocks and the modern SSA. Here we describe sulfur isotopic fractionation during SO2 photolysis including isotopic self-shielding at low temperatures (down to 228 K) and low pressures (from 5.9 to 9.8 kPa) where pressure broadening of SO2 becomes negligible. Results indicate that magnitudes of sulfur isotopic fractionation factors (34ε, 33E, and 36E values, where 33E = 33ε – 1000 × [(1 + 34ε/1000)0.515 − 1] and 36E = 36ε − 1000 × [(1 + 36ε/1000)1.90 − 1]) increase with decreasing temperature, with values at 228 K being about four times those at 296 K (34ε of up to +344‰). Meanwhile, 33E/34ε and 36E/33E ratios are roughly independent of temperature over the temperature range (by approximately +0.1 and − 3.1, respectively), although the 33E/34ε ratios slightly increase with decreasing temperature, ranging from ~ + 0.08 to ~ + 0.13. A two-component mixing model involving SO2 oxidation by OH and SO2 photolysis in the stratosphere reproduces δ34S and Δ33S values of modern SSA when the contribution ratio of SO2 photolysis to SO3 production is ~20%. The contribution ratio of ~20% is consistent with a previous estimation by Whitehill et al. (2015). However, Δ33S/δ34S ratios at low temperatures are far from those of Archean sedimentary rocks, calling for an additional mechanism (or mechanisms) to explain Archean MIF-S. •SO2 photolysis experiments were undertaken at low temperature and low pressure.•Magnitudes of isotopic fractionation factors increase with decreasing temperature.•33E/34ε and 36E/33E ratios are roughly independent of temperature.•SO2 photolysis and OH oxidation together reproduce δ34S and Δ33S of modern SSA.•The low-temperature 33E/34ε is far from Δ33S/δ34S of Archean sedimentary rocks.