Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Hydrogen peroxide for sulfide treatment

We are using hydrogen per oxide of 50 % concn, to treat waste water containing sulfide as pollutant. It is learnt that addition of H2O2 in an acidic medium require lower amount of it. But, our waste water has alkaline pH, sulfide in the form of Na2S. So will addition of acid leads to the formation of H2S, which causes atmospheric pollution

Shiny Varghese
petroleum refining - Kochi, Kerala, India
2004

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2004

Absolutely! This is an extremely dangerous approach, and I do not believe that the use of peroxide in an acidic medium actually makes it any better at oxidizing sulfide than it does in an alkaline base, with exception of perhaps total reaction time.

Its cheaper and easier to install a reaction tank! Or, you can also use hypochlorite (depending on your discharge parameters) to do the same job at 1/4th the cost and much more safely.

Tom Baker
wastewater treatment specialist - Warminster, Pennsylvania