TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Hydrogen Sulfide Component in Natural Gas 1

2. Properties of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas 2
3. Effect on Hydrogen Sulfide Release 3
3.1 Impact on Environment
3.2 Impact on Health
4. Treatment Methods 5
4.1 Amine Absorption
4.2 Caustic reaction
5. Conclusion 8
6. Reference 9
1. HYDROGEN SULFIDE COMPONENT IN NATURAL GAS

Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide also known as ‘acid gas’ are naturally occurring
component found in oil and gas work sites. It can be found at oil and natural gas well sites, at
petroleum refineries and pipelines used to carry crude oil and natural gas. A rapid and high
development of industrial activities for nation growth and economic have contributes to global
environmental and health issue. These involved activities indirectly contaminate the surrounding
air with thousands of different toxic gas components as a consequence of untreated gas
discharge/gas leakage or inefficient sour gas treatment system. Apart from industrial plants, other
sources of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas released into the air as a product of decomposition of dead
plant and animal material, especially when this occurs in wet conditions with limited oxygen
(Almsatar T et. al 2014).

When cleaning natural gas, the content of water, and has to be removed to
secure a high quality product for the end user. is corrosive and is damaging the equipment
when the content is too high. Gas containing can be divided into two categories: Acid gas
and Sour gas. The acid gas is having a high content of carbon dioxide ( ) and hydrogen
sulphide ( ), and the sour gas contains moderate amounts of and . Both contain small
amounts of other sulphur compounds. For example, thiol (CSH) and carbonyl sulphide (COS)
(A. Fahim et al). To avoid high concentrations of in pipelines, tanks and separators, which
can damage equipment and in some cases can cause hazards that can damage personnel, the gas
treatment is necessary to be carry out.

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2. PROPERTIES OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS

Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . H2S is an extremely
hazardous and toxic compound. It is a colorless, flammable gas, which can be dangerous in
relative low concentrations. H2S can be characterized by the smell of rotten eggs and can be
found in sewage, fertilizers, wastewater treatment plants and gas wells. The gas is often
produced under conditions where rotten organic matter containing sulfur is decomposed in a low
oxygen atmosphere. The smell of H2S can be detected by the human nose in concentrations
below 1 part per million (ppm). The smell will increase as the concentration increases. In
concentration up to 30 ppm the rotten smell will be present. Above this concentration the smell
will change into a more sickening sweet smell. This is dangerous because H2S can be present
without anyone observing any particularly smell. When H2S reaches this level, it starts to be a
threat to the life of humans.

Figure 2.1 Chemical structure for hydrogen sulfide.

Table 2.1 Physical properties of hydrogen sulfide.

Physical Properties Value
Molecular Weight 34.08
Boiling Point -60.4 oC
Melting Point -85.5 oC
Density/Specific Gravity 1.539 g/L at 0 oC (water = 1)
Vapor Pressure 20 atm at 25.5 oC
Vapor Density 1.189 (air = 1)
Autoignition Temperature 260 oC
Conversion Factor 1 ppm = 1.39 mg/m3

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 Table 2.1 Hazard identification of hydrogen sulfide
Diamond Hazard Value Description

Health 4 Can be lethal.

4 Burns readily. Rapidly or completely vaporizes at
Flammability atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature.
Instability 0 Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
Special
(NFPA, 2010)

3. EFFECT OF HYDROGEN SULPHIDE RELEASE

a) Impact on Environment

Most of the hydrogen sulfide released to air comes from natural sources such as swamps,
bogs, and volcanoes. Hydrogen sulfide can also be released from industrial sources such as
petroleum refineries, natural gas plants, kraft paper mills, manure treatment facilities, waste
water treatment facilities, and tanneries.Hydrogen sulfide air concentrations from natural sources
range between 0.00011 and 0.00033 ppm. In urban areas, the air concentrations are generally less
than 0.001 ppm. Hydrogen sulfide remains in the atmosphere for approximately 1- 42 days,
depending on the season. It can change into sulfur dioxide and sulfates in the air. Those chemical
substances in air will contribute to smog, green-house gases and global warming.

Hydrogen sulfide might be released to water in liquid waste of an industrial facility or as

the result of a natural event. It can be naturally present in well water. Hydrogen sulfide
concentrations in surface water are usually very low because it readily evaporates from water. It
can also be present in groundwater. Hydrogen sulfide evaporate to the air also contribute to
formation of acid rain which are corrosive and give harm to animal, trees and aquatic life.

Hydrogen sulfide can enter soil through atmospheric deposition or from spills. In soil,
hydrogen sulfide is consumed by bacteria, which change it to sulfur. When rains, the sulphur in
soil will be carried by water as rainoff and sink to the ground. This make water too acidic and
toxic for aquatic life and human consumption.

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 b) Impact on Health

Among sour gas identified, hydrogen sulfide is the utmost pressure to environment and
health particularly the existence high level of sulphur content. Hydrogen sulfide gas is a silent
threat, often invisible to the body’s senses. Inhalation is the primary route of exposure to
hydrogen sulfide. Exposure to high levels of the gas can deaden the sense of smell instantly
irritates the mucous membranes of the body and the respiratory tract, among other things.
does not accumulate in the body, but repeated/prolonged exposure to moderate levels can cause
low blood pressure, headache, loss of appetite and weight loss. Prolonged exposure to low levels
may cause painful skin rashes and irritated eyes. Repeated exposure over time to high levels of
H2S may cause convulsions, coma, brain and heart damage, even death.

Table 3.1: Hydrogen sulfide: established dose-effect relationships

Hydrogen sulphide Effect Reference
concentration
Mg.m3 ppm
1400-2800 1000-2000 Immediate collapse with World Health
paralysis of respiration Organization,
WHO
750-1400 530-1000 Strong CNS stimulation, World Health
hyperpnoea followed by Organization,
respiratory arrest WHO
450-750 320-530 Pulmonary oedema with World Health
risk of death Organization,
WHO
210-350 150-250 Loss of olfactory sense Savolainen, H.
Nordiska
70-140 50-100 Serious eye damage Savolainen, H.
Nordiska
15-30 10-20 Threshold for eye irritation Savolainen, H.
Nordiska

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 The toxicity of hydrogen sulphide was tragically illustrated by the tragedy release of
toxic fumes and killed 233 people in southwestern on 27 December 2004. A poisonous mix of
natural gas and hydrogen sulfide had erupted from the well in the remote mountain town of
Gaoqiao, leaving a 10-square-mile "death zone" strewn with bodies of adults and children. The
release happened because of drilling crew improperly dismantled anti-blowout equipment,
misjudged the amount of gas in the well and failed to spot the blowout which spewed the toxic
fumes. (official Xinhua News Agency)

4. TREATMENT METHODS
a) Amine Absorption

NATURAL
GAS
Figure 4.1 Acid Gas Treatment System

The Amine Treatment system removes and from the fresh natural gas feed using
conventional Monoethanolamine (MEA) acid gas removal system. The system consists of two
part which is Acid Gas Absorber and Amine Stripper. and is removed in the acid gas
absorber by countercurrent contact of the feed with lean 20% monoethanolamine (MEA)
solution. A water wash section is include in the top section of the acid gas absorber to prevent
MEA carryover to downstream equipment. The Amine Stripper is provided to strip the and
from the rich amine solution and recycle the lean amine solution to the Acid Gas Absorber.

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 The feed at ambient temperature enters the bottom of the Acid Gas Absorber. and
in the feed is removed by countercurrent content with 20 wt.% MEA solution recycled from
the amine stripper. The lean amine solution, which is somewhat warmer than the feed gas to
preclude the possibility of condensing hydrocarbons in the solution, enters the Acid Gas
Absorber below the wash water draw-off tray. As it flows through the column, the and
is absorbed into the amine solution. The heat of absorption raises the temperature of the solution
as it flows down the tower. The treated gas is passed through a demister pad and enters the water
wash section at the top of the tower. The water wash section has three bubble cap trays. Boiler
feed water (BFW) enters on the top tray and flows countercurrent to the upward ethane feed flow
to remove trace amounts of amine from the feed.

Figure 4.2 Amine stripper column, bubble cap tray and random ring.

The rich amine solution increase in temperature as it passes through the Lean / Rich
Amine Heat Interchanger. As the solution flows down through the column, it contacts up with
flowing steam stripping vapors. The low pressure stem stripped off and . This section of
the stripper contains two packed beds of IMTP #50 packing. Below the packing, lean amine
solution is collected and drawn off to the steam reboiler which then will be recycle again in acid
gas adsorber. The and will flow to acid gas flare to be burn.

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 b) Caustic reaction

Figure 4.3 Caustic Treatment System

Caustic / Water Wash Tower is where the acid gases and generated in the
Cracking Heater are removed by reaction of and with the caustic to form sulfide and
carbonate salts. Charge gas is scrubbed with weak caustic in the bottom section of the tower,
strong caustic in the middle section. To accomplish this, the wash tower is designed with two
completely separate caustic compartments, each containing bubble cap trays. In addition, a
water wash section is provided to prevent caustic carryover from the system. This wash
compartment utilizes three bubble cap trays. Bubble cap trays are used throughout this tower to
maximize Vapor / liquid contact to ensure that the and desired spec. in the tower
overhead is accomplished.
In most cases, some "yellow oil" will be formed. It is necessary to decant this oil from
the bottom of the tower so it does not recalculate with the caustic and cause fouling. The yellow
oil from the tower bottom is degassed in the Degassing Drum prior to being sent to treatment
plant.

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5. CONCLUSION

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a very toxic gas at high concentrations. Because it occurs in nature
and is produced by numerous industrial activities, it is regarded as both an environmental and
industrial pollutant. It is colorless, is heavier than air, and has a characteristic odor of rotten eggs at
low concentrations; however, at higher concentrations it could fatal. In addition, a release or leak of
H2S to environment could give negative impact on mother nature, animal and human. Although the
toxicological and environmental impacts of H2S have been studied for many decades, there are still
many concerns about the potential effects of low levels on humans and the ecosystem in general.
Thus, the industrial must play important role to treat their waste before being discard to
environment and the research on H2S treatment should be proceed to have a very efficient way to
treat the gas.

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6. REFERENCE

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Elkilani, first edition (2010), Elsevier. ISBN:978-0-444-52785-1
3. The National Fire Protection Association, United States Trade Association
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sulfid [Nordic expert group for TLV evaluation. 40. Hydrogen sulfide]. Arbeta och hdlsa,
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manure compost. Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell
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Catalysis, 49, 108-117.
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