Abstract:
Most abundant form of sulphur in the
geosphere has been sulphate. Sulphate, with sulphur in
the plus six oxidation state is very stable. Sources of
sulphate in groundwater include mineral dissolution,
atmospheric deposition and other anthropogenic sources
(mining, fertilizer, etc.). Gypsum is an important contributor
to the high levels of sulphate in many aquifer of
the world. Sulphate is not as much as toxic, but it can
cause catharsis, dehydration and diarrhoea, and when
ingested in higher amount through dietary absorption,
the levels of methaemoglobin and sulphaemoglobin are
changed in human and animal body. The role of sulphate
in aqueous phase and sedimentary phase has been
discussed. There is only limited work on sulphate pollution
remediation in groundwater at national and international
level; therefore, in the light of rising attention in
sulphate as a contaminant, different sources of sulphate,
its distribution and available different remediation techniques
for groundwater system reported so far have been
discussed in the present paper. Abiologic processes’
thermochemical sulphate reduction (TSR) also plays
significant role in reduction of sulphate.
