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Case History

80% reduction in outage time for complete elimination of H2S and reduction in ammonia in an SRU Sour Water Tank when utilizing chemical decontamination

Results Achieved

R
Complete elimination of
hydrogen sulfide and reduction of ammonia to acceptable levels
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Over 80% reduction in outage time
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No personnel exposure to hazardous materials
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No additional disposal expense

Chemicals Utilized

H2S scavenger for the rapid and permanent elimination of H2S

Rapid removal, neutralizing, and deodorizing of ammonia odors

A large petroleum refinery in New Jersey used our hydrogen sulfide abatement product, FQE® H2S Scavenger, and ammonia control product FQE Ammonia Odor to decontaminate a sour water tank in their sulfur recovery unit (SRU) containing 1,438 m3 (380,000 gallons) of sour water.

The initial H2S readings from the sour water vessel exceeded 80,000 ppm (8.0%). A 20% FQE H2S Scavenger mixture in water was prepared and pumped into the tank. The tank contents were circulated for 48 hours to ensure good contact was made between the vessel water and the FQE H2S Scavenger. The tank contents were sampled every two hours with the H2S being reported at 0 ppm after 32 hours. Prior to the hydrogen sulfide treatment, the vessel was treated with FQE Ammonia Odor for ammonia control. The required amount of FQE Ammonia Odor was pumped into the tank and the vessel contents were circulated for 12 hours until the ammonia level was below the acceptable 10 ppm.

The chemical circulation was performed at an ambient temperature and was applied from bottom to top through a 3D nozzle mounted through the vessel’s top manway access. The spray nozzle was used to eliminate the high H2S and ammonia concentrations present in the vessel’s head space. Upon completion, the treated water was processed through the wastewater treatment plant without delays.

Typically, this process is conducted by the slow addition of a strong oxidizing liquid over a 7-10 day period of time, resulting in extra time and additional disposal considerations being required.

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