Cover page (Title, authors, Date)
Hydrogen Sulfide
Executive summary
Table of contents
Introduction
Hydrogen sulfide bits
Hydrogen sulfide is a colourless, flammable, poisonous gas that smells like rotten eggs. It is soluble in
water and organic solvents and will corrode metals.1
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Properties
Melting Point: -85.4°C
Boiling Point: -60.3°C
Vapour Density: 1.189
Flashpoint: -82.4°C2
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2
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Production
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Occurrence
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Uses
http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/hydrogen-sulfide/index.html
http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/hydrogen-sulfide/index.html
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Toxicity
Health effects:
Collapse, coma and death from respiratory failure may come within a few seconds after one or two
inspirations, at high levels (concentrations of 1000 to 2000 parts per million). Concentrations of 100 to
200 parts per million for one to eight hours may cause sleeplessness, blurred vision, haemorrhage and
death. Lower concentrations may irritate the eyes, nose and throat (5 to 50 parts per million). Following
an exposure there may be headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Repeated exposures may cause
headaches, anorexia, insomnia, paralysis, meningitis, psychic troubles, slowed heart rate, bronchitis and
a grey-green line on the gums.
Entering the body
Hydrogen sulfide can enter the body when a person breathes air containing hydrogen sulfide. This is
most common for people who work in areas of higher exposure or near to facilities where hydrogen
sulfide are used or produced.
Exposure
Workers in the industries that use or produce hydrogen sulfide are most at risk of exposure. Consumers
can be exposed to hydrogen sulfide by exposure to air from production and processing facilities that use
or produce hydrogen sulfide such as mining operations, chemical processing facilities, oil and gas
extraction operations, electric power plants, pulp and paper mills, and other producers of to hydrogen
sulfide.
Health guidelines
Worksafe Australia:
For hydrogen sulfide, it is allowable for workers to be exposed to concentrations of 10 parts per million,
averaged over an eight hour workshift, with the exposure not exceeding 15 parts per million. Worksafe
Australia reports hydrogen sulfide is very toxic by inhalation.
Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996):
Aesthetic: Maximum of 0.05 mg/L (i.e. 0.00005 g/L).3
Environmental Effects
Hydrogen sulfide has high acute (short-term) toxicity to aquatic life, birds, and animals. Insufficient data
are available to evaluate the acute toxicity of hydrogen sulfide on plants on land. Insufficient data are
available to evaluate the chronic toxicity of hydrogen sulfide to plants, birds or animals.
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http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/hydrogen-sulfide/health.html
Entering the environment
Hydrogen sulfide will be in the atmosphere as a gas. It will be dispersed depending upon where the air
currents carry it. It breaks down in the air in a few days.
Where it ends up
Hydrogen sulfide enters the environment from both natural and human processes. Almost all the
releases are to the air, where it exists in the gas phase. In the air it will react with other chemicals to be
broken down, it will usually be broken down in about three days.
Environmental guidelines
No national guidelines.4
Source of emissions
Industry sources
Potential large emitters of hydrogen sulfide are electric power plants (burning coal or fuel oil containing
sulfur), oil and gas extraction operations, oil refineries, pulp and paper mills, sewage treatment plants,
large pig farms and other confined animal feeding operations, Portland cement kilns, municipal waste
landfills, coke ovens, sulfur products and hydrogen sulfide production, asphalt production and storage
and geothermal power plants. Most hydrogen sulfide releases are to the air.
Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in
diffuse emissions data
Other potential emitters of hydrogen sulfide are breweries, fertiliser producers, glue manufacturers,
processing of ores (Lead, gold, and copper) and sugar beet and sugar cane processing.
Natural sources
Hydrogen sulfide is found in coal pits, volcanic gases, natural gas wells, sulfur springs, and decaying
organic matter which contains sulfur.
Transport sources
Found in car exhaust.
Consumer products
It is not believed that there are any consumer products that contain hydrogen sulfide. Some consumer
products may release hydrogen sulfide, such as septic tanks and the burning of coal or oil.5
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Curiosities
http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/hydrogen-sulfide/environmental.html
http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/hydrogen-sulfide/environmental.html
Mass extinction, suicides
Waste bits
Industrial bits
Small amounts of hydrogen sulfide occur in crude petroleum, but natural gas can contain up to
90%.[7] Volcanoes and some hot springs (as well as cold springs) emit some H2S, where it probably
arises via the hydrolysis of sulfide minerals, i.e. MS + H2O → MO + H2S.[citation needed] Hydrogen sulfide
can be present naturally in well water, often as a result of the action of sulfate-reducing bacteria.
About 10% of total global emissions of H2S is due to human activity. By far the largest industrial route
to H2S occurs in petroleum refineries: The hydrodesulfurization process liberates sulfur
from petroleum by the action of hydrogen. The resulting H2S is converted to elemental sulfur by partial
combustion via the Claus process, which is a major source of elemental sulfur. Other anthropogenic
sources of hydrogen sulfide include coke ovens, paper mills (using the sulfate method),
and tanneries. H2S arises from virtually anywhere where elemental sulfur comes in contact with
organic material, especially at high temperatures.6
Hydrogen sulfide is used to separate deuterium oxide, or heavy water, from normal water via
the Girdler Sulfide process.7
Hydrogen sulfide is commonly found in natural gas, biogas, and LPG. It can be removed in a number
of ways. Hydrodesulfurization is a more complex method of removing sulfur from fuels 8
Hydrogen sulfide is used in the manufacture of pulp and paper (digesting agent), in tanneries and in
sulfide ores. Most man made hydrogen sulfide is produced as a by-product of industry, rather than for
industry.9
Occurrence:
Petroleum refineries, coke ovens, pulp and paper mills (using the sulfate method), and tanneries,
sulphide ores
6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulphide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulphide
8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulphide
9
http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/hydrogen-sulfide/index.html
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Description of the issue
Waste
Industrial
Management Approach(s)
Waste
Industrial
Summary and Conclusions
References
Appendices