Complete H₂S Elimination in a Wet Scrubber
A Houston study on a natural-gas stream carrying 2,000 mg/L hydrogen sulfide, scrubbed with JC 9450 ROS chemistry.
The Problem
The Challenge
A Houston natural-gas stream carried 2,000 mg/L of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) along with 5% CO₂. Any gas above 10 ppmv H₂S is classed as "sour," and at 2,000 mg/L this stream was far into corrosive, hazardous territory — a threat to equipment, safety, and downstream processing.
The reducing chemistry of the stream registered a negative oxidation-reduction potential of roughly −150 mV, the signature of an environment where sulfide dominates.
The Program
The Jenfitch Solution
JC 9450 was applied in the wet-scrubber circuit, where its reactive oxygen species oxidize hydrogen sulfide directly. Rather than transferring the problem to a spent-media waste stream, the reaction converts sulfide to inert sulfate.
- JC 9450 ROS oxidized the H₂S in the scrubber liquor on contact.
- ORP was driven from roughly −150 mV up to +100 mV, crossing from a reducing to an oxidizing regime.
- The only residuals left behind were inert sulfates — no hazardous by-products.
- Treatment cost landed at just $0.0040 per pound of H₂S removed.
The Data
The Results
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| H₂S in gas stream | 2,000 mg/L | Completely eliminated |
| ORP | −150 mV | +100 mV |
| Residuals | Sulfide (corrosive) | Inert sulfates only |
| Cost per lb H₂S removed | — | $0.0040 |
Sour gas to clean, at fractions of a cent
The scrubber completely eliminated 2,000 mg/L of H₂S, shifted ORP from −150 to +100 mV, and left only inert sulfate residuals — all for $0.0040 per pound of H₂S removed.
Documentation
Read the full study
Related: Cooling Towers & Scrubbers research · Oil & Gas research
Frequently Asked Questions
About this H₂S scrubber study.
How much H₂S was in the stream?
The Houston natural-gas stream carried 2,000 mg/L of H₂S plus 5% CO₂. Any gas above 10 ppmv H₂S is considered "sour," so this was heavily loaded — and JC 9450 eliminated it completely.
What does the ORP shift mean?
ORP moved from about −150 mV to +100 mV, crossing from a reducing (sulfide-dominated) environment to an oxidizing one — the measurable signature of the sulfide being oxidized away.
What residuals are left behind?
Only inert sulfates. The reaction oxidizes hydrogen sulfide rather than transferring it to a hazardous spent-media stream, so there are no corrosive or hazardous by-products to manage.
How cost-effective is it?
Treatment came in at $0.0040 per pound of H₂S removed, making complete scrubbing of a heavily sour stream economical.
