Sulfide Removal from Alkali Solutions via Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aqueous alkali solutions from trona and nahcolite ore mining contain sulfides, which are difficult to remove effectively, leading to the release of hydrogen sulfide as a pollutant during bicarbonate decomposition, requiring costly gas scrubbing processes.

Innovation Solution

Introducing hydrogen peroxide into the sulfide-containing alkali solutions to oxidize sulfides into soluble reaction products, avoiding the formation of hydrogen sulfide and simplifying downstream processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional gas scrubbing processes are used to remove sulfides from alkali solutions, then hydrogen sulfide emissions are controlled, but process complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen sulfide emissionsVSAvoidgas scrubbing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by oxidizing sulfides to soluble reaction products before bicarbonate decomposition occurs. This preventive oxidation step converts potential hydrogen sulfide pollutants into non-volatile soluble compounds, eliminating the need for downstream gas scrubbing equipment and complex emission control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful sulfide pollutant into a beneficial soluble reaction product through oxidation. The sulfides that would otherwise require complex gas scrubbing removal are transformed into soluble compounds that remain in the aqueous phase, turning a harmful emission problem into a beneficial process simplification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Device complexity

If sulfides are not removed from alkali solutions, then processing is simpler, but hydrogen sulfide is released as a pollutant during bicarbonate decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidhydrogen sulfide pollutant release

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary oxidation of sulfides before the bicarbonate decomposition step that would otherwise generate hydrogen sulfide emissions. This advance treatment prevents pollutant formation while maintaining overall process simplicity by using a single oxidation step rather than complex multi-stage removal systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The oxidation process converts harmful sulfides into beneficial soluble reaction products that prevent hydrogen sulfide emissions. This transformation eliminates the need for complex sulfide removal equipment while simultaneously preventing pollutant release, achieving both simplicity and environmental compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hydrogen peroxide is used to oxidize sulfides, then sulfide removal efficiency increases and hydrogen sulfide emissions are reduced, but additional chemical reagents are introduced into the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen sulfide emissionsVSAvoidchemical reagent introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical state of sulfides from reduced (H2S-forming) to oxidized (soluble reaction products) by introducing hydrogen peroxide. This parameter change in oxidation state efficiently eliminates hydrogen sulfide emissions while the oxidized products remain soluble and do not interfere with downstream processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method achieves complete removal of sulfides, reducing hydrogen sulfide emissions and avoiding the need for costly air pollution control measures, with high efficiency and minimal byproduct formation.

Implementation Method 1

introducing hydrogen peroxide into a sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solution to oxidize the soluble sulfide to a soluble reaction product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS8858902B2Selective removal of sulfide from aqueous alkali solutions

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 WE SODA WYOMING LP

AI summary

A method for removing sulfide from an aqueous alkali solution in which hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solution associated with an alkali mineral recovery operation. The method is particularly useful for the processing of sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solutions containing NaHCO3 and Na2CO3, where bicarbonate in the sulfide-depleted alkali solution is decomposed to form Na2CO3, with concurrent evolution of gaseous carbon dioxide byproduct but without formation of gaseous H2S as a pollutant, and where Na2CO3 values are subsequently recovered from the sulfide-depleted carbonate-rich alkali solution via a crystallization operation.