That rotten egg smell in a facility doesn’t just appear out of thin air; it actually doesn’t appear at all. The colorless gas that creates the odor is known as hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Its offensive scent is not only harmful to living creatures, it also has the potential to wreak havoc on your equipment, concrete and metal surfaces due to corrosion caused by the sulfuric acid. So, how does Chemsearch FE get rid of the smell, or, better yet, prevent its aromatic attack on employees and customers? Follow these steps:
Step 1: Find the Source
H2S is formed by organic materials, such as food waste, breaking down and forming sulfates. Sulfate reducing bacteria use the oxygen in sulfate to survive, converting it to sulfide (S2-). Finally, sulfide combines with hydrogen in water to form hydrogen sulfide. This hazardous gas can be stinking up several points in your commercial systems, but as it’s heavier than air, so check in first with lower level structures such as:
- Basements floor drains
- Lift stations
- Grease traps/interceptors
- Sewers or sewage tanks
Step 2: Test for Hydrogen Sulfide
Although sometimes your nose might know, it is not as sensible in this case to depend on your olfactory system. H2S comes in like a powerful stench, but it quickly stifles a person’s sense of smell, decreasing their ability to detect the hazardous gas. There are many ways to test, such as detector tubes, gas-meters or air-monitoring equipment.
Step 3: Prevent and Eliminate H2S
Odor masking products should not be an option when H2S is present. Depending on the concentration, the health effects to H2S exposure are no laughing (or snorting) matter! People exposed to the gas could experience a range of symptoms, including:
- Irritation of eyes, nose, throat or respiratory system
- Headaches, dizziness or difficult breaking
- Nausea, coughing, vomiting and difficulty breathing
- Fluid in the lungs that can be fatal
Although there are other options, Chemsearch FE specializes in liberating a facility from H2S by preventing it from forming in the first place. Our team is experienced and is here to aid you in finding the source, testing for and providing solutions to combat H2S. One natural solution is Odor Punch. This product stands above competition with three main benefits:
- Benefit 1: Proven to prevent H2S formation
- Benefit 2: Helps beneficial bacteria breakdown fats, oils and greases
- Benefit 3: No chemical residue
Our representatives at Chemsearch FE are extremely knowledgeable about these topics as well as many other facility maintenance areas. If you’d like to discuss further facility solutions with one of our resource management experts, please click here and we will get someone in touch with you soon!
