Ultra-S3^® Eliminates the "Rotten Egg" Odor Caused by Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) Oftentimes within Minutes!

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is the main culprit behind the unpleasant and pervasive “rotten egg” smell that often overwhelms communities near wastewater treatment plants, refineries, textile factories, landfills, paper mills, and other industrial facilities.

This smell is not just a terrible nuisance, it’s a sign of a chemical reaction that also contributes to pollution in the form of acid rain. And that pollution does irreparable damage to the environment.

H₂S gas forms when sulfide is present in water with low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. Bacteria convert sulfate molecules into sulfide, which serves as a precursor to H₂S. Even if oxygen levels rise later, the sulfide remains and can be released as H₂S gas.

Ultra-S3^® is a proven and highly effective solution designed to eliminate the persistent rotten egg smell associated with hydrogen sulfide gas. By combining Ultra-S3^® with an oxidant, such as hydrogen peroxide, H₂S is efficiently and rapidly transformed into elemental sulfur and water, effectively eliminating the odor.

One real-world example involves landfill leachate laden with significant levels of hydrogen sulfide and other odorous compounds, consistently pumped from the Prince William County, Virginia landfill to the local sewage authority. Ultra-S3^® was successful in reducing hydrogen sulfide concentration to non-detectable levels from a concentration greater than 50 mg/L. This treatment not only removed the significant odor problem associated with the high H₂S levels but also created a cleaner, safer environment for the community.

Ultra-S3^® works very well on landfill leachate odor problems. It is also noteworthy that Ultra-S3^® treatment will eliminate additional recalcitrant hazardous chemicals from leachate such as benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), pesticides, and many others.

Although Ultra-S3^® removes noxious hydrogen sulfide from water, resulting in cleaner air, the air itself can be treated directly via wet air scrubbers, also known as “gas scrubbers.” Commonly found in facilities such as wastewater treatment plants, air scrubbers can be repurposed to use Ultra-S3^® with no additional modifications required. A simple cleaning will do the trick.

Ultra-S3^® is more efficient than caustic soda, sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and other commodity chemicals used in wet air scrubbers. It also regenerates, allowing for 75-90 day lifecycles. The result is operating cost savings of up to 30% versus traditional wet scrubber chemistry, which needs to be added constantly.