Hydrogen Sulphide Cylinder
Hydrogen sulphide is a colorless gas with a sweet taste and a characteristic unpleasant heavy odor of rotten eggs (the chemical formula is H2S). It is formed by the decomposition of proteins, which are contained in the sulphur-containing amino acids methionine or cysteine. It occurs rarely in nature as part of associated petroleum gases, natural gas, volcanic gases and in dissolved form in natural waters. In large concentrations, it is poisonous. It is flammable. Concentration of ignition in mixture with air are 4.5 - 45% hydrogen sulphide. It causes severe corrosion of metals. Hydrogen sulphide is liquefied at a temperature of -60.28°C and freezes at a temperature of -82.3°C. In industry, hydrogen sulphide is obtained by direct synthesis of hydrogen and sulphur in the temperature range of 150-200°C, or as a by-product of oil, natural and coke oven gas purification. Under laboratory conditions, hydrogen sulphide can be obtained by the interaction of dilute acids with sulphides, by the interaction of aluminium sulphide with water, as well as by fusing paraffin with sulphur.
APPLICATION:
• in the chemical industry for the production of sulphur, sulphuric acid and sulphides; • in organic synthesis to obtain thiophene and mercaptans; • a reagent for the precipitation of heavy metals whose sulphides are poorly soluble; • in medicine as part of natural and artificial hydrogen sulphide baths, as well as in some mineral waters. Requirements for transportation, storage and use of cylinders for hydrogen sulphide are established by the Federal standards and regulations in the field of industrial safety "Regulations of industrial safety for hazardous facilities using equipment operating under excessive pressure", GOST 22387.2-2014 "Natural combustible gases. Methods for the determination of hydrogen sulphide and mercaptan sulphur", fire safety standards, as well as other laws and regulations and international agreements in force on the territory of the Russian Federation.Cylinders are not hazardous cargo until they are taken into use, but in any case they should be transported in conditions that exclude mechanical damage. Cylinders filled with hydrogen sulphide shall be transported by rail, road and water transport in accordance with the regulations on transportation of dangerous goods, applicable to the relevant mode of transport. The cylinders shall be transported in a horizontal position with gaskets between the cylinders or in a vertical position necessarily with a guard against possible falling. The cylinders must be transported with caps screwed on.
Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of hydrogen sulphide must not be used for storage and transportation of other gases. It is forbidden to make any modifications to the cylinder bodies using welding or mechanical tools, which can lead to damage to the integrity or appearance of defects that degrade the technical characteristics of the cylinders. When using cylinders for hydrogen sulphide it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. The maximum permissible concentration of hydrogen sulphide in the air of the working area is 10 mg/m3. When working with hydrogen sulphide, safety requirements must be observed and personal protective equipment in the form of filtering gas masks or insulating breathing apparatus must be used. A mixture of hydrogen sulphide and air is explosive. When hydrogen sulphide ignites in the fire zone, fixed automatic fire-extinguishing systems, water, foam or inert gases must be used to extinguish the fire. When filling cylinders with hydrogen sulphide, the mass of gas in the filled cylinder should not exceed 1,250 kg per 1 dm3 of the cylinder capacity. The gas in the cylinders must not be completely consumed when in use. The residual gas pressure in the cylinder must be at least 0.05 MPa (0.5 kgf/cm2).
Cylinders filled with hydrogen sulphide are stored in special closed warehouses. Warehouses must be located in a lightning protection zone. In the premises where the cylinders filled with hydrogen sulphide are stored, it is prohibited to handle open flame; electrical networks and artificial lighting must be of explosion-proof design. Do not use tools that produce sparks on impact. It is forbidden to store cylinders with hydrogen sulphide and oxygen in the same room, it is forbidden to store cylinders in the room where the technological process of using hydrogen sulphide contained in them is carried out. Storage of cylinders should be carried out with the caps screwed on.