Crude oil and gas have many components that have to be removed before they are usable in the marketplace. One of the most toxic elements in the crude products is sulfur. Sulfur forms compounds in gas and oil, such as hydrogen sulfide, that are very corrosive and extremely toxic.
Sulfur in its purest form is an element whose symbol is S, whose atomic number is 16 and whose atomic weight is 32.06. It is a pale yellow brittle metal. It is the tenth most common element in the universe and is contained in many compounds. In ancient times, sulfur was know to the Greeks as brimstone. It burns with a hot flame and is the substance used on the head of matches. It is also a component in gunpowder.
While sulfur has many uses it also can form many compounds that are extremely dangerous to your health. The most prevalent example is hydrogen sulfide, which is formed when burning fuel contains sulfur. This is an extremely corrosive gas that is very toxic if inhaled. Commercially it is used to make sulfuric acid.
Amines are organic compounds that contain a nitrogen atom. These amines react with hydrogen sulfide to produce nontoxic products, which can be easily disposed of. Another method is hydrogen sulfide scavengers, which come in liquid, solid and catalyst types. They remove the hydrogen sulfide from the gas or oil. The advantage of the scavengers is that they are more easily used in remote areas and can be less expensive than amines.
Since the late 1990s new ideas have emerged on how to remove sulfur from oil and gas. Filters have been developed that allow the sulfur to be removed inexpensively. Another interesting technique has been development of fungi to remove the sulfur. These innovations are still in their early development stages and, as of 2010, are not widely available commercially.
As drilling for gas and oil proceeds deeper and deeper into the earth, scientists are discovering higher and higher contents of hydrogen sulfide in the crude products. The oil and gas industry is thus compelled to find better and cheaper ways to remove unwanted by-products before offering their products to the public.
