Hydrogen Sulfide Generation in Shipboard Oily-Water Waste. Part 1. Origin of theHydrogen Sulphide

摘要

This paper, the first in a series of four reports, provides an overview of therecurring problem of hydrogen sulfide generation in oily-water wastes in ships of the Royal Australian Navy. In the DSTO-AMRL investigation into this problem, we examined the physical and microbiological factors influencing the process under simulated storage conditions and related the findings to the shipboard situation. Sulfate from sea-water was the source of the sulfur for hydrogen sulfide formation. The sulfate was reduced to sulfide by anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria (eg Desulfovibrio) in concert with other bacteria. Physical and chemical conditions in the shipboard oily-water waste environment were generally conducive to this bacterial process. In addition to the need for sulfate, the other important requirement was for a supply of organic nutrient for the bacteria. Detergents used in cleaning are identified as significant nutrient sources.