HYDROGEN SULFIDE
ESTIMATIONS
March 20, 2013
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Organic material sources having:




Anaerobic conditions
Sulfur
Bacteria
Chemical reactions
WHAT IS HYDROGEN SULFIDE?

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) occurs naturally in crude petroleum,
natural gas, volcanic gases, and hot springs. It can also result
from bacterial breakdown of organic matter. It is also
produced by human and animal wastes. Bacteria found in your
mouth and gastrointestinal tract produce hydrogen sulfide from
bacteria decomposing materials that contain vegetable or
animal proteins.

Hydrogen sulfide can also result from industrial activities, such
as food processing, coke ovens, kraft paper mills, tanneries,
and petroleum refineries.

Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless gas with a
characteristic odor of rotten eggs. It is commonly known as
hydrosulfuric acid, sewer gas, and stink damp. People can
smell it at low levels.
ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, July 2006.
WHY BOTHER?
 Continuous release reporting (CERCLA RQ = 100
lbs)
 Form R reporting (always best if matches
continuous release numbers)
 State air permit requirements
RENDERING
 Blood drying


AP-42 9.5.3 “Meat Rendering Plants”
0.08 lbs H 2 S/ton dried blood
 Inedible rendering

? Depends
BLOOD RING DRYER – H 2 S
900
800
700
H2S (lbs)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
Blood Meal (tons)
10,000
LEATHER TANNING
 Through the blue process
 Common sources:




Building ventilation
Chase vents
Re-acidulation tanks
Hairburn drums
 Stack test or other measurement data
H 2 S IN WATER

Dissolved sulfide in aqueous solution consists of
H 2 S and HS - in equilibrium
H 2 S ↔ HS - + H +


Species distribution depends on pH, ionic strength,
and temperature
Understanding this relationship is useful in
estimating emissions, and emission control
strategies
H 2 S IN WATER
H 2 S IN WATER
WASTEWATER – FORM R
Manufactured Hydrogen Sulfide (lbs/year)
M
G
D
8.3
4.2
2.1
1.4
1.1
1.0
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
25,266
12,785
25,570
6,393
12,785
25,570
4,262
8,523
17,047
25,570
3,349
6,697
13,394
20,091
26,788
3,044
6,088
12,176
18,265
24,353
27,397
2,131
4,262
8,523
12,785
17,047
19,178
25,570
1,826
3,653
7,306
10,959
14,612
16,438
21,918
25,570
1,522
3,044
6,088
9,132
12,176
13,698
18,265
21,309
25,875
1,218
2,435
4,871
7,306
9,741
10,959
14,612
17,047
20,700
25,570
913
1,826
3,653
5,479
7,306
8,219
10,959
12,785
15,525
19,178
25,570
609
1,218
2,435
3,653
4,871
5,479
7,306
8,523
10,350
12,785
17,047
25,570
304
609
1,218
1,826
2,435
2,740
3,653
4,262
5,175
6,393
8,523
12,785
1.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
9.0
12.0
14.0
H2S (mg/L)
17.0
21.0
28.0
42.0
25,570
84.0
H 2 S IN AIR

ACF to SCF:
ACF x (460 R + 70) / (460 R + T) x (psi / 14.7) = SCF

H 2 S ppm to lbs:
(SCF x ppm H 2 S x 34.1 lb/lb-mol) / (385.1 SCF/lb-mol x 1E6) = lbs H 2 S
WASTEWATER




Spreadsheet example (Smithfield)
Covered lagoon monitoring data
Estimation from lab data
Estimation software
WASTEWATER – CONTINUOUS RELEASE
REPORTING > 100 LBS/DAY
Manufactured Hydrogen Sulfide (lbs/year)
6.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
1.2
1.0
M 0.9
G 0.8
D 0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
36,529
18,265
36,529
12,176
24,353
36,529
9,132
18,265
27,397
36,529
7,306
14,612
21,918
29,223
36,529
6,088
12,176
18,265
24,353
30,441
36,529
5,479
10,959
16,438
21,918
27,397
32,876
38,356
4,871
9,741
14,612
19,482
24,353
29,223
34,094
38,964
4,262
8,523
12,785
17,047
21,309
25,570
29,832
34,094
38,356
3,653
7,306
10,959
14,612
18,265
21,918
25,570
29,223
32,876
36,529
3,044
6,088
9,132
12,176
15,221
18,265
21,309
24,353
27,397
30,441
36,529
2,435
4,871
7,306
9,741
12,176
14,612
17,047
19,482
21,918
24,353
29,223
36,529
1,826
3,653
5,479
7,306
9,132
10,959
12,785
14,612
16,438
18,265
21,918
27,397
36,529
1,218
2,435
3,653
4,871
6,088
7,306
8,523
9,741
10,959
12,176
14,612
18,265
24,353
36,529
609
1,218
1,826
2,435
3,044
3,653
4,262
4,871
5,479
6,088
7,306
9,132
12,176
18,265
4
6
8
40
60
2
10
12
14
16
18
20
24
30
36,529
120
QUESTIONS?