Hydrogen sulfide problem
Today our country has met with serious difficulties in the spheres of ‘economy’, ‘energy’ and ‘ecology’. These spheres are integrally connected with each other. Therefore, it is necessary to approach to resolving of these problems together. By resolving of ‘ecology’ problems, Ukraine will be able to solve ‘energy’ difficulties, and thereafter ‘economy’ difficulties.
Excessive formation of hydrogen sulfide in sea water and its swift rise to the sea surface are considered as one of the biggest ecological problems. The origin of this problem is often connected with man’s impact on nature, i.e. the influence that man has on the environment and its resources as the result of human activity.
The Black Sea is the largest hydrogen sulfide cloud. In the Black Sea depths, the same as in the depths of the World Ocean, hydrogen sulfide can be found in both dissolved and gaseous states.
During the last 100 years a hydrogen sulfide cloud rose from a depth of 100 meters in the Black Sea to 30-50 meters from the surface. The danger of hydrogen sulfide breaking through the surface is real. The following disastrous effects are possible:
1) hydrogen sulfide ignition by as the result of contact with air and formation of high-toxic sulfurous anhydride (SO2) – the main component of acid rains;
2) explosion of the hydrogen sulfide and air mixture, that can lead to mechanical destructions of buildings, installations, civil, municipal and military facilities;
3) poisoning of biosphere and humans by hydrogen sulfide.
The risk of World Ocean waters being poisoned is a serious problem that up until now has not been paid sufficient attention.
IS HYDROGEN SULFIDE A WORLDWIDE ECOLOGICAL PROBLEM OR GIFT FOR SOCIETY?
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a virulent poisonous and explosive substance. Poisoning occurs when concentration reaches between 0,05 to 0,07 milligram/meter3. The maximum permissible hydrogen sulfide concentration in air of population areas is 0,008 milligram/meter3.
The Black Sea is the largest hydrogen sulfide cloud. According to experts and scientists, the hydrogen sulfide detonation power present in the Black Sea is the equivalent to Hiroshima. In that case the consequences would be as if an asteroid a quarter of the size of the Moon collided with the Earth. The total hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea is more than 20 thousand of cubic kilometers.
Large breakouts of hydrogen sulfide have occurred rarely, the last one had taken place during Yalta earthquake on 11th of September 1927. 70% of the buildings on the South Shore of Crimea were damaged. In some places damage reached 100%. As a result of the earthquake, the sea caught fire. The fire spread over tens of kilometers of the sea, and the flame height reached 500-600 meters. Now this problem has been forgotten in Ukraine, for reasons that are unclear. The truth is that the problem has not disappeared.
At the same time intensive works on the extraction and development of energy gases out of hydrogen sulfide at huge depths are being carried out in the world. It’s known that traditional global supplies of oil and gas of the Earth have resources for no more than 40-50 years. Intensive developments and experiments are already being led by the USA, Canada, Japan, France, German, Great Britain, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
3 billion tons of deep-sea hydrogen sulfide in traditional energy resources terms is equivalent to 600 billion liters of petrol.
Norway has already used motor cars running on hydrogen fuel.
The Black Sea is not only a serious ecological problem, but it is a potential source of hydrogen energy.
Ukraine also has inventions that have Patents of reprocessing and the use of Black Sea energy resources, of seas and oceans over the world, that have been developed through thirty years of water research on scientific research vessels.
We can conclude, that in taking a wise and innovative approach hydrogen sulfide can be used for fuel-energy purposes, petrochemical synthesis and in the production of mineral fertilizers. Therefore, hydrogen sulfide mass in the Black Sea and the World Ocean depths will lessen, which will lead to decreasing of ecology risk level.
Just rational industrial hydrogen sulfide usage can make Ukraine energy independent from other countries; raise its status in the international market. Because the price of hydrogen sulfide gas usage compared with traditional natural one is in 3-4 times lower, it is more economically profitable.
Therefore, Governments of all countries, and especially ours, should listen to scientists working on the hydrogen sulfide problem, and to do everything necessary to transform a global ecological problem into a gift for society!
