Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) causes a strong smell of rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a very dangerous chemical, at high concentrations it’s lethal almost immediately. The rotten egg smell is very well noticeable at low concentrations but people lose their sense of smell for hydrogen sulphide (H2S) at higher concentrations. This is exactly what makes this chemical so dangerous!
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a big problem especially in the (waste)water treatment. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is formed by anaerobe (oxygen-less) bacteriological processes. This is why the risk of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is big in oxygen poor environments like pumping stations and pump pits.
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) can also occur in ground water. When the ground water is pumped up, part of it will escape (degas). Water with high concentrations is also corrosive to various metals like iron and copper.
Ozone can be used to oxidise hydrogen sulphide. Ozone can be used for hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in the gaseous phase but also when it’s dissolved in water. The reaction between ozone and hydrogen sulphide is very fast. At a high enough dosage, a decrease of 80% can happen within 40 seconds. The moistness of the gas also plays a role in the oxidation process of hydrogen sulphide in the gaseous phase, for both the reaction speed as the necessary ozone dosage.
Hydrogen sulphide