Study of Dispersing Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) Generated from a Chemical Industry

Abstract

Nuisances caused by odors in industrial emissions are a problem with high frequency of community’s complaints. Some industrial activities frequently emit small concentrations of odoriferous substances and these are often sufficient to affect the human olfactory system, which is highly sensitive. Odor emissions are less and less tolerated by society due to their effects on health and quality of life. Odorants emissions are becoming less tolerated by society due to their effects on health and quality of life. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of odorous substances generated by gas emissions from a chemical industry, identifying odorous compounds by measuring the gases concentration levels and simulate their dispersion. At some points, fugitive H2S emissions were detected and it was noted that in the mapping plume concentration, depending on weather conditions, the plume could exceed the limits of the industry, generating uncomfortable in the population, even that the limits of perception of H2S were very low. The actions taken by the industry have been downplaying the problem, proven even by the environmental inspection local agency.