Patent Document

Appl. Ser. No.  08 / 437 , 874 , filed May  9 ,  1995  and Appl. Ser. No.  09 / 198 , 506 , filed Nov.  24 ,  1998 , and are each reissues of U.S. Pat. No.  4 , 911 , 843  ( which issued from Appl. Ser. No.  07 / 281 , 747 , filed Dec.  9 ,  1988   )  Appl. Ser. No.  09 / 198 , 506  is a Continuation of Appl. Ser. No.  08 / 437 , 874 , now U.S. Pat. No. Re.  36 , 651 .   
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a process for the removal or reduction of dissolved hydrogen sulfide, and reduction of BOD in sewer systems, municipal waste treatment plants and in other industrial waste applications. 
     It is known to add nitrates or nitrites to sewage to effect reduction in BOD and even to suppress the formation of hydrogen sulfide gas via bacterial action. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,300,404; 4,446,031; and 4,681,687. 
     It is also known to add nitrates to sewage in order to control objectionable odors. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,966,450; 4,108,771. 
     There have also been attempts to remove hydrogen sulfide directly from waste. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,127, the patentee adds amounts of glyoxal, or glyoxal in combination with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde, in order to reduce or scavenge the amount of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous or wet gaseous mediums. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,668, the patentee utilizes polycondensation products produced by the condensation of acrolein and formaldehyde to eliminate hydrogen sulfide present in aqueous systems, such as waste water clarification plants. Merk also mentions benefits relating to corrosion prevention and deodorization. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,130, the patentee decontaminates sewage systems, waste water treatment plants and other industrial waste applications containing hydrogen sulfide by adjusting the pH of the sewage of a value over 7.0 and bringing the sewage into contact with an ash product. 
     It has now been discovered that the addition of nitrate, via an aqueous sodium nitrate solution, to sewage systems, waste treatment plants and other industrial waste applications containing dissolved hydrogen sulfide will result in the elimination or substantial reduction of the hydrogen sulfide, as well as the elimination of other “minor” odors associated with other sulphur-containing compounds. 
     It is believed that the addition of nitrate provides an oxygen source which promotes the growth of naturally occurring bacteria which utilize in their metabolism the sulfur tied up as hydrogen sulfide. It has been demonstrated both in lab jar tests and in an actual sewage collection system test, that dosing sewage containing over 50 mg/L of dissolved hydrogen sulfide with a sodium nitrate solution reduces the dissolved hydrogen sulfide to less than 0.1 mg/L. Along with this phenomena a significant reduction in sewage biological oxygen demand, BOD, of up to about 70%, and overall “sweetening”, i.e., removal of other minor odors, of the sewage has been observed. These phenomena are believed to be the results of the biological process promoted by the nitrate addition. 
     More specifically, it has been found that 2.4 parts of nitrate oxygen (NO 3 —O) are necessary to remove 1 part dissolved sulfide (S 2− ). The source of nitrate to accomplish removal of the hydrogen sulfide is not specific, and aqueous solutions of both sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate appear to be suitable. 
     Because the necessary reaction is biochemical, it will not occur within a sterile solution, i.e., naturally occurring bacteria must be present. Moreover, the removal of hydrogen sulfide is not instantaneous. According to applicant&#39;s tests, an “incubation” period of about 8 to about 96 hours, and preferably about 24 to about 48 hours, is necessary to culture the bacteria, followed by about 1.5 to about 20 hours, and preferably about 3 to about 12 hours, for ongoing sulfide removal. 
     It has further been determined that the process in accordance with this invention achieves a significant reduction in sewage BOD due to the utilization of organic matter in the metabolism described. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The FIGURE is a schematic diagram representing a sewage system employed in the Example described herein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Removal of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and a reduction in BOD in waste systems treated with sodium nitrate or calcium nitrate is believed to occur for the reasons described below. 
     The presence of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in sewage occurs as a result of a lack of dissolved oxygen. The addition of nitrate ions NO 3  provides an oxygen source for certain bacteria already present in the waste or sewage to thrive. 
     The bacteria that grow as a result of the nitrate oxygen utilize the dissolved hydrogen sulfide as part of their metabolism. The dissolved hydrogen sulfide contains sulfur which the bacteria also require in their metabolism. 
     It is theorized that the biochemical reaction which occurs has the following half reactions: 
     
       
         8 NO 3 — O 3 →4N 2 +120 2 O 2    
       
     
     
       
         120 2   O   2 +5H 2 S→5SO 4   2− +4H 2 O+2H +   
       
     
     Based upon the above it is calculated that 2.4 parts of nitrate oxygen (NO 3 —0)  (NO 3   —O ) are necessary to remove 1 part of dissolved sulfide (S 2− ):            8                 moles                   NO   3   -         5                 moles                   H   2        S       ×       48                 lb                   Oxygen   /   mole                     NO   3   -         32                 lb                   Sulfide   /   mole                     H   2        S                              
     yields  2.4 lb lbs nitrate  oxygen/lb sulfide. 
     This ratio of oxygen to sulfide has been confirmed in both bench and field tests. 
     The source of nitrate to accomplish the sulfide removal is not critical, and both aqueous solutions of sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate have been used successfully. 
     This reaction is biochemical and it will not occur within a sterile solution, i.e., naturally occurring bacteria in sewage must be present. Additionally, the sulfide removal is not instantaneous; tests have shown that an “incubation” period of 24-48 hours is necessary to culture the bacteria and thereafter 3-12 hours for ongoing sulfide removal. It is believed, however, that the incubation period may extend from about 8 to about 96 hours, and the ongoing removal period from about 1.5 to about 20 hours, depending on conditions. 
     The promotion of biological activity via nitrate addition as described also achieves a reduction in sewage BOD due to the utilization of organic matter in the metabolism described. 
     EXAMPLE 
     With reference to the FIGURE, sodium nitrate was added to a sewer system in Jacksonville, Florida at a master pump station, or feed point B, upstream of a second master pump station comprising a monitoring point A. The feed point B was at a point removed from an intersection C of the feed line and main sewage line, as indicated in the FIGURE. 
     The treated sewage continued to a downstream waste water treatment plant in Jacksonville, indicated as point D. 
     Average detention times (based on average daily flows, line sizes and lengths are as follows: 
     B→C 7 hours 
     C→A 3.3 hours 
     B→A 10.3 hours 
     In terms of the description provided above, the B→C distance and retention time of 7 hours constitutes the incubation period, coupled with the distance C→A and associated retention time of 3.3 hours comprises a total of 10.3 hours from addition of the nitrate station at point B to the monitoring at point A, thereby permitting sufficient time for the bacteria to culture. 
     The following table shows the change in dissolved hydrogen sulfide at point A, with addition of nitrate occurring at point B. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 SODIUM NITRATE 
                 DAILY AVERAGE 
               
               
                   
                 SOLUTION 
                 DISSOLVED H 2 S 
               
               
                 DATE 
                 FEED · GPD 
                 PPM AT POINT A 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 2/22/88 
                 0 
                 35-40 
               
               
                 2/23/88 
                 0 
                 30-50 
               
               
                 2/24/88 
                 1800 
                 30   
               
               
                 2/25/88 
                 1800 
                 15-20 
               
               
                 2/26/88 
                 1800 
                 0.1-15  
               
               
                 2/27/88 
                 1200 
                 0.1-   
               
               
                 2/28/88 
                 1200 
                 0.3-   
               
               
                 2/29/88 
                 1200 
                 0.1-8   
               
               
                 3/01/88 
                 650 
                 0.7-1.5 
               
               
                 3/02/88 
                 650 
                 1.0-1.5 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     During the period of time, the average daily H 2 S at point B was 25-30 ppm. 
     It is readily apparent from the above chart that significant reduction in H 2 S was achieved over a nine day period of time, commencing about 24 hours after the addition of the sodium nitrate, with maximum reductions occurring after 48 hours. 
     Subjective sampling also indicated a significant reduction in sewage odors other than hydrogen sulfide. 
     It was also found that sewage BOD was also reduced or indicated as in the following table: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II  
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 BOD (mg/L) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 DATE 
                 POINT B 
                 POINT A 
                 POINT D 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 03/02/88 
                 165 
                 112 
                 138 
               
               
                   
                 03/03/88 
                 145 
                 55 
                 135 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It will thus be appreciated that the present invention provides for the removal of significant amounts of existing dissolved hydrogen sulfide and a corresponding reduction in sewage BOD. By properly feeding sodium nitrate into the sewage or waste, odor and corrosion problems can also be substantially eliminated. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

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