Friday, January 3, 2014

Information On Hydrogen Sulfide Reduction In Sewer Systems

By Harriett Crosby


Hydrogen gas is produced in sewer systems, swamps, in volcanic and natural gas. Its production is after organic materials are broken down in absence of oxygen. The most common characteristic of this gas is its smell. It usually smells like rotten and this can explain why sewage system usually produces a foul smell of rotten eggs. This article thus provides information on hydrogen sulfide reduction and why it is important.

When thinking of this gas in waste water, the concern is mostly its odor and corrosion effects. More often than not, people living near sewer systems usually complain of the odors coming from the system. The corrosion problem results when the gas produced in the sewer atmosphere combines with water to form hydro sulfuric acid. This acid is the one responsible for corroding the sewer infrastructure.

There is thus need to control the production of this gas in waste water collection system to very low levels. One way which specialists have found to reduce production of this gas is through addition of a strong alkali or soluble basic solution. The basic solution for instance sodium hydroxide (NAOH) or magnesium hydroxide when added to sewage increases the pH and this leads to limited formation of the gas.

Another way devised to control the odor problems is through addition of chemical compounds also known as chemical treatment. The most used compounds in this treatment are chlorine compounds like sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ferric chloride and bleach. They are added to the sewage and they oxidize the sulfides hence preventing formation of the gas.

However this addition of chemical compounds can be challenging when there is no pumping post from which the chemicals are fed into the system. Therefore a chemical feed system should be established to make this process easier. The feed system should also be monitored to ensure effective treatment system. Safety measures are usually considered when carrying out this chemical treatment.

For the rust problems, several measures exist to control this. The first one involves increased ventilation in sewer system to allow aerobic digestion to occur rather than anaerobic. The other measure is use of protective coatings when manufacturing sewer pipes and tanks. These coatings can be polythene linings, cement, vinyl, tar products and the do prevent corrosion of the infrastructure.

The other method of corrosion control is crown and manhole spraying. Usually, corrosion is worst at the crown of the pipe since the acid collects at this point. This causes the pipe to weaken and eventually collapse if the problem is persistent. Spraying a Sulfa Lock Hi Gel onto the manhole and sewer surfaces protects them from harsh effects of the acid.

There is also a monitoring instrument known as a liquid phase sulfide meter that monitors the amount of sulfides in industrial wastes. When the sulfide content is beyond the required amount, the industrial discharge undergoes pretreatment before being released to sewer system. All these control strategies used in hydrogen sulfide reduction in sewers work together to prevent corrosion and odors. Scientists are however still coming up with new chemicals and instruments to effectively manage this problem.




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