High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event?
Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is a hazardous, colorless, flammable gas with a distinct rotten-egg smell at low concentration. Exposure to a concentration greater than 500 ppm of H<sub>2</sub>S can result in irreversible health problems and death within minutes. Because of...
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/6/1/15 |
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author | Kayode I. Adeniyi Herman H. Wan Connor E. Deering Francis Bernard Molly A. Chisholm Robert A. Marriott |
author_facet | Kayode I. Adeniyi Herman H. Wan Connor E. Deering Francis Bernard Molly A. Chisholm Robert A. Marriott |
author_sort | Kayode I. Adeniyi |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is a hazardous, colorless, flammable gas with a distinct rotten-egg smell at low concentration. Exposure to a concentration greater than 500 ppm of H<sub>2</sub>S can result in irreversible health problems and death within minutes. Because of these hazards, operations such as oil and gas processing and sewage treatment that handle or produce H<sub>2</sub>S and/or sour gas require effective and well-designed hazard controls, as well as state-of-the-art gas monitoring/detection mechanisms for the safety of workers and the public. Laboratories studying H<sub>2</sub>S for improved understanding must also develop and continually improve upon lab-specific safety standards with unique detection systems. In this study, we discuss various H<sub>2</sub>S detection methods and hazard control strategies. Also, we share our experience regarding a leak that occurred as a result of the failure of a perfluoroelastomer O-ring seal on a small stirred autoclave vessel used for studying H<sub>2</sub>S hydrate dissociation/formation conditions in our laboratory, and discuss how our emergency response plan was activated to mitigate the risk of exposure to the researchers and public. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-bc5947ad0698476b99502b818d119bb3 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2313-576X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:20:11Z |
publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Safety |
spelling | doaj.art-bc5947ad0698476b99502b818d119bb32022-12-21T23:42:07ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2020-03-01611510.3390/safety6010015safety6010015High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event?Kayode I. Adeniyi0Herman H. Wan1Connor E. Deering2Francis Bernard3Molly A. Chisholm4Robert A. Marriott5Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaHydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is a hazardous, colorless, flammable gas with a distinct rotten-egg smell at low concentration. Exposure to a concentration greater than 500 ppm of H<sub>2</sub>S can result in irreversible health problems and death within minutes. Because of these hazards, operations such as oil and gas processing and sewage treatment that handle or produce H<sub>2</sub>S and/or sour gas require effective and well-designed hazard controls, as well as state-of-the-art gas monitoring/detection mechanisms for the safety of workers and the public. Laboratories studying H<sub>2</sub>S for improved understanding must also develop and continually improve upon lab-specific safety standards with unique detection systems. In this study, we discuss various H<sub>2</sub>S detection methods and hazard control strategies. Also, we share our experience regarding a leak that occurred as a result of the failure of a perfluoroelastomer O-ring seal on a small stirred autoclave vessel used for studying H<sub>2</sub>S hydrate dissociation/formation conditions in our laboratory, and discuss how our emergency response plan was activated to mitigate the risk of exposure to the researchers and public.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/6/1/15hydrogen sulfide hydratesafetysour gas laboratorygas alarmelastomer failurenatural gas flow assurancehigh-pressure research safety |
spellingShingle | Kayode I. Adeniyi Herman H. Wan Connor E. Deering Francis Bernard Molly A. Chisholm Robert A. Marriott High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event? Safety hydrogen sulfide hydrate safety sour gas laboratory gas alarm elastomer failure natural gas flow assurance high-pressure research safety |
title | High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event? |
title_full | High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event? |
title_fullStr | High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event? |
title_full_unstemmed | High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event? |
title_short | High-Pressure Hydrogen Sulfide Experiments: How Did Our Safety Measures and Hazard Control Work during a Failure Event? |
title_sort | high pressure hydrogen sulfide experiments how did our safety measures and hazard control work during a failure event |
topic | hydrogen sulfide hydrate safety sour gas laboratory gas alarm elastomer failure natural gas flow assurance high-pressure research safety |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/6/1/15 |
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