08-26-2020, 03:48 PM
Biogas, produced by the decomposition of organic matter, is becoming an important source of energy. Biogas is released due to anthropogenic activities from landfills, commercial composting, anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge, animal farm manure anaerobic fermentation, and agrifood industry sludge anaerobic fermentation. Biogas contains methane (CH4), which has a high energy value, and is increasingly being used as an energy source (Abatzoglou & Boivin, 2009). A compound in biogas, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), is corrosive, toxic, and odorous. This study focuses on biogas produced by the anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge.
Biogas from anaerobic processes at SJE Sour Gas Treatment can contain up to 2,000 ppm H2S (Osorio & Torres, 2009). Exposure to hydrogen sulfide can be acutely fatal at concentrations between 500 and 1,000 ppm or higher, and the maximum allowable daily exposure without appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime is 1.4 ppb (U.S. EPA, 2003), although OSHA regulations allow concentrations up to 10 ppm for prolonged exposure (Nagl, 1997). Hydrogen sulfide can significantly damage mechanical and electrical equipment used for process control, energy generation, and heat recovery. The combustion of hydrogen sulfide results in the release of sulfur dioxide, which is a problematic environmental gas emission. Adsorption onto various media and chemical scrubbing are common methods of H2S removal from biogas and other gasses. However, the media and chemical solutions used are often expensive and difficult to dispose.
Biogas from anaerobic processes at SJE Sour Gas Treatment can contain up to 2,000 ppm H2S (Osorio & Torres, 2009). Exposure to hydrogen sulfide can be acutely fatal at concentrations between 500 and 1,000 ppm or higher, and the maximum allowable daily exposure without appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime is 1.4 ppb (U.S. EPA, 2003), although OSHA regulations allow concentrations up to 10 ppm for prolonged exposure (Nagl, 1997). Hydrogen sulfide can significantly damage mechanical and electrical equipment used for process control, energy generation, and heat recovery. The combustion of hydrogen sulfide results in the release of sulfur dioxide, which is a problematic environmental gas emission. Adsorption onto various media and chemical scrubbing are common methods of H2S removal from biogas and other gasses. However, the media and chemical solutions used are often expensive and difficult to dispose.