Hydrogen Sulfide in Water

Published on by in Technology

Hydrogen Sulfide in Water

        About six months ago, my friends asked me to help determine what water treatment system to chose for a private house. The source of water supply is a 40 meters deep-well. Initially, I assumed that the water will have a composition inherent to groundwater. So, the well is considered to be artesian if it has protection against pollution by surface waters, i.e. it has no contact with the atmosphere and is not polluted with different organics. As a rule, the protection of artesian water provides a layer of clay. A layer of dense clay begins at a depth of an average of 25 to 75 meters. Water can be considered artesian if it located deeper than this layer of clay. In such water there is practically no organic matter and oxygen. If the mineral composition is right (salt content of water should be less than 1000 mg / l), this water is considered drinking.

        On the territory of the Saratov region artesian water begins at a depth of 100 m, so I assumed that the well with a depth of 40 meters is likely to be groundwater. That is, it will be contaminated with organic matter and oxygen will be in the water, because it has contact with surface waters which are rich in organic matter and oxygen.

        I strongly recommended to make a full water analysis for the compliance with the requirements of SanPiN 2.1.4.1074-01 “Drinking water”, but … as you know it is easier said than done.

      So, the water from the well was brought for analysis. I test water for the adjustment of water-chemical mode of boiler rooms. Therefore, I can make an analysis with sufficient accuracy on the following parameters salinity, hardness, alkalinity, pH, iron, oxygen, CO2, ORP.

You can see the  full version in my site tiwater.info    

Full link : Hydrogen sulfide in water

Media

Taxonomy

6 Comments

  2. Ivan, H2S can be removed easily through aeration. either pump into a holding tank so it will gas off or add an aeration system to the well itself. i have had great results by running a bubbler in wells to get rid of H2S. We started doing this a decade ago. It's a very simple system. An air compressor, oil less, 3/8" poly line to deliver air and a bubbler just above pump. Set the compressor up on a timer to aerate every 2 hours for 15 minutes and no more H2s. this system will raise the PH of the water if there are iron rust bacteria present. Please email me at tim@diamondwelldrilling.com.  i have all the specs for a system like this. 

  3. Hi Ivan,  you have given an extensive assessment of the development of the chemical properties of the water.  You seem to have come to the conclusion that the H2S has originated through the presence of organic matter at some stage.  There is a possibility that the medium through which the rain water permeates before reaching the aquifer (or even within the aquifer itself) contains iron pyrites where sulphur reducing bacteria are naturally present.  As the aquifer is pumped more oxygen is permeated to the iron pyrites layer, increasing sulphur levels in the aquifer.  This is the process of acid mine drainage - but results in higher sulphates and not sulphides.  Your further assumption of anoxic conditions due to the presence of some organic materials or environment where bacteria reduce the sulphates to sulphides may then be relevant. So it is suggested that an additional factor to consider is the increased sulphates due to pumping the aquifer and thereby introducing additional oxygen to water passing through a layer of pyrites.

    1 Comment reply

    1. Thanks. This is very important information for me.

      The fact that I could not understand where in a closed water circuit appears hydrogen sulfide and sulfite. Initially, the circuit is filled with clean drinking water passed through the softening filters. At the same time, if the circuit has equipment made of stainless steel or non-ferrous metals, there is an active corrosion of this equipment. The fact that I could not understand where hydrogen sulfide and sulfite appear in a closed water circuit. Initially, the circuit is filled with clean drinking water passed through the softening filters. After a certain period of time, if the circuit has equipment made of stainless steel or non-ferrous metals, there is an active corrosion of this equipment. Of course, a small amount of organic matter is contained in the feed water and in the circuit itself. Sulfur can enter the circuit only in the form of sulfate ion.

      Therefore, I assumed that after removing oxygen from the water (water in the circuit can be heated to 100 degrees Celsius or more), anaerobic bacteria begin to develop. Perhaps in water is formed predominantly sulfite, not hydrogen sulfide. Nevertheless, the water receives a strong reduction reaction and, accordingly, there is an active corrosion of non-ferrous metals.

      Once again, thank you very much for your comment.

  4. Thanks for your comments.

  5. Dear sir,

    Hello sir, Usually very deep well water H2S IS BIG ISSUE. Moderate to high levels of hydrogen sulfide will require frequent filter replacement. These filters also can remove tannins and other dissolved organic compounds. Aeration (adding air to the water) is a treatment option for this concentration range and is commonly used by city water treatment systems.