Chemical hydrogen sulphide

In electrochemical cells sample oxidation produces an electric current proportional to the concentration of test substance. Sometimes interferences by other contaminants can be problematic and in general the method is poorer than IR. Portable and static instruments based on this method are available for specific chemicals, e.g. carbon monoxide, chlorine, hydrogen sulphide. 

Hydrogen sulphide Various chemical processes Odours, toxic... 

Other chemicals Copper and copper alloys are unsuitable for handling hydrogen peroxide " or molten sulphur . Hydrogen sulphide accelerates corrosion of most copper-base materials. In its presence brasses high in zinc are usually found to behave better than other copper alloys. ... 

Polythene wash bottles are sometimes charged with wash liquids other than water. Attention must be drawn to the fact that the components of some wash solutions may pass into the polythene and may be released into the space in the bottle when it is set aside repeated fillings and rinsings may be required to remove the chemicals from the bottle. It is safer to label the wash bottle and to reserve it for the special wash liquid. Such wash solutions include a weakly acid solution saturated with hydrogen sulphide, dilute aqueous ammonia, saturated bromine water, and dilute nitric acid. 

Some indication of risk of employee exposure to airborne chemicals can be gauged from an analysis of the level of exposure for comparison with known human dose/ response data such as those for carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide listed in... 

Hydrogen sulphide occurs naturally, e.g. in natural gas and petroleum, volcanic gases, and from decaying organic matter. It may be present near oil wells and where petroleum is processed. Commercially it is obtained as a by-product from many chemical reactions including off-gas in the production of some synthetic polymers (e.g. rayon, nylon) from petroleum products, and by the action of dilute mineral acids on metal sulphides. Physical properties are summarized in Table 9.14 and effects of temperature on vapour pressure are shown in Figure 9.5. 

Hydrogen sulphide Various chemical processes Oil wells, refineries Sewage treatment Odours, toxic Crop damage/reduced yields... 

Li, G.P. and Hamilton, LP. (2006) Complexes of small neutral gold clusters and hydrogen sulphide A theoretical study. Chemical Physics Letters, 420, 474 79. 

Wells are purged until stable readings are obtained for field chemical parameters including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, redox and electrical conductivity. Samples are then collected for a wide variety of chemical parameters. Time sensitive parameters are analyzed within specific holding times. For example, alkalinity and hydrogen sulphide are measured at the time of sampling, iodide... 

Hvitved-Jacobsen, T., B. Jiitte, P. Halkjaer Nielsen, and N.Aa. Jensen (1988), Hydrogen sulphide control in municipal sewers. In H. H. Hahn and R. Klute (eds.), Pretreatment in Chemical Water and Wastewater Treatment, proceedings of the 3rd International Gothenburg Symposium, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 1—3, 1988, Springer-Verlag, New York/Berlin, pp. 239—247. 

Two basic methods are used for the manufacture of sulphur dyes. In one, the starting materials are baked either with sulphur alone or with sulphur and sodium sulphide at a temperature between 180 and 350 °C. Alternatively the intermediates are heated under reflux in aqueous or alcoholic sodium polysulphide this process may also be carried out under pressure at temperatures up to about 130 °C. Following sulphurisation the dye is precipitated by means of air or chemical oxidation, acidification or a combination of these methods. The sulphurisation process results in the evolution of hydrogen sulphide, which is usually absorbed in aqueous sodium hydroxide for use elsewhere - in the reduction of nitro compounds, for example. 

In any case, covering may be impracticable for other reasons. Many processes as they are currently designed depend upon at least visual access by operators for process control, and in other instances the production of odorous chemicals such as hydrogen sulphide can be accompanied by the formation of methane, giving a potential fire or explosion hazard. 

Most bore waters include high concentrations of at least one of the following chemical contaminants (Table 1) lithium (Li), boron (B as H3BO3), arsenic (As), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), mercury (Hg), and sometimes ammonia (NH3). If released into a river or lake, these contaminants can potentially damage aquatic life, terrestrial plants, and/or human health. The disposal of highly saline bore waters can also have an adverse effect on water quality. 

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