What is the difference between hydrogen sulfate and hydrogen sulfide

It is very difficult to test for hydrogen sulfide in a laboratory because the hydrogen sulfide escapes very quickly from water and may be gone by the time the water reaches the laboratory. The rotten egg smell of hydrogen sulfide is unmistakable, but test kits are available for on-site hydrogen sulfide measurement. A laboratory test may be required to verify the level of hydrogen sulfide in your water in order to select an appropriate treatment method, but water samples collected to test for hydrogen sulfide must be stabilized immediately.

Most laboratories will provide special sample bottles that contain a chemical for this purpose. However, the stabilizing chemical often interferes with other tests and a separate sample will be required if additional tests are requested.

When collecting any water sample, carefully follow the laboratory's instructions for proper sample collection. In general, the delivery of a refrigerated sample is required within 48 hours of collection. The presence of sulfate is easily determined in laboratory water tests. If you send your water to a laboratory for a test package that includes multiple tests, make sure that the test package you select includes sulfate. For a list of state certified water testing laboratories, contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Watershed Protection Branch, Drinking Water Program, Compliance and Enforcement Unit by phone at or visit their website at www.

Hydrogen Sulfide in Household Drinking Water. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University. Sulfate and Hydrogen Sulfide in Household Water. Status and Revision History Published on Apr 14, Classes, Workshops, and Club Meetings UGA Extension offers a wealth of personalized services like workshops, classes, consultation, certifications, camps, and educator resources. Find out what Extension has for you! Extension Changes Georgia University of Georgia Cooperative Extension programming improves people's lives and gets results.

Our Impact. High levels of sulfate will not always be associated with an odor, taste, or appearance problem. In some cases, the elevated level of sulfate will be suspected because when the water evaporates there is a white or gray powdery solid. Your best course of action is to get your water tested and to compile as much information as possible about your water supply source, well construction, surrounding land-use, and local geology. Level 1 Testing is done with simple observations that an individual can make with their own senses such as sight, smell, and taste.

These observations can be readily apparent or can be observed as they change over time. In addition, accessible related information about the home can also be used to narrow down the cause of your water issues. You will suspect a problem with sulfate if the water has a sulfur odor, black particles, or you are experiencing diarrhea.

As previously mentioned, problems with hydrogen sulfide will typically be most evident by smell, but it can also be associated with other aesthetic issues, such as discolored water, premature failure of water related equipment and fixtures, and corrosion of fixtures.

Sulfate is usually not so obvious. If your test results reveal the presence of a contaminant that is cause for concern, you can either proceed to determine the best treatment see below or continue to Level 3 Testing. Sulfate test strips are a reliable and easy way to screen your drinking water for the presence of sulfates. It is basically a test where you dip a test strip in the water and then after a 2 minute wait Yes you have to wait 2 minutes you get a result.

There are also test strips and affordable screening tests for sister compounds like sulfide, hardness, and metals. A number of pathogens are associated with sulfur odors.

Level 3 Testing is done through an accredited Water Testing Laboratory. With Level 3 Testing, you can order a testing kit that is used to prepare your sample and submit it to the lab.

By utilizing a lab, you have the assurance that a certified water expert had analyzed your water sample. If your test results reveal the presence of a contaminant that is cause for concern, you can either proceed to determine the best treatment options see below or continue to Level 4 Testing - Certified Testing. If you conduct an informational water quality test, we suggest a testing package that includes trace metals, bacteria, nutrients, and sulfur compounds.

If you are experiencing a sulfur odor we would suggest testing for nuisance bacteria and if you are in an agricultural or industrial area we also suggest test for volatile organic compounds VOCs and synthetic organic compounds SOCs. This is not a common problem in city water, but if you have this problem we recommend flushing your water line until you smell chlorine, contacting your water supplier, and conducting a City Water Basic and a Sulfate Related Bacteria Test.

For well water sources and some city water systems we have found that intermittent sulfur odors have been related to bacteria regrowth in the distribution system; for these systems we recommend that the source and piping be shock-disinfected.

Regarding the hot water lines, we suggest pasteurizing and flushing the heating system. A Level 4 Certified Test Test uses chain-of-custody with a water professional coming to your home to prepare the water sample and then works with an accredited laboratory in order to certify your test results. This type of testing not only gives you the highest level of assurance in the accuracy of your test results, but can also be used as a document in legal cases.

For Baseline Testing , we recommend that you use Certified Testing. A problem with hydrogen sulfide gas may be associated with a chemical or biochemical issue with the water. Before conducting certified testing, it is advisable to conduct preliminary informational testing including microbiological testing and, at a minimum, an attempt to flush and shock-disinfect the source and distribution system.

Several methods of removing sulfate from water are available. The treatment method selected depends on many factors including the level of sulfate in the water, the amount of iron, manganese, and salts in the water, water pH and oxidation potential, and whether bacterial contamination requires treatment. The option you choose also depends on how much water you need to treat and the chemistry of the water. For treating small quantities of water, for drinking and cooking only, the typical treatments are distillation or reverse osmosis.

The most common method of treating large quantities of water is ion exchange. This process works similar to a water softener.

An ion-exchange resin, contained inside the unit, adsorbs sulfate. When the resin is loaded to full capacity with sulfate, treatment ceases. The resin then must be "regenerated" with a salt sodium chloride brine solution before further treatment can occur. Distillation boils water to form steam that is then cooled and condensed. Minerals, such as sulfate, do not vaporize with the steam and are left behind in the boiling chamber. Reverse osmosis membranes have a porosity that permits water molecules to pass through but leaves the large ions, including sulfate, in solution.

If the problem with your water is because of sulfate reducing bacteria or anaerobic bacteria, a high level of chlorination, mixing, and turbulence may be needed during the Shock Disinfection process.

To remove low levels of hydrogen sulfide, install an activated-carbon filter. The filter must be replaced periodically to maintain performance. Frequency of replacement will depend on daily water use and concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the water and this assumes the problem is NOT related to bacteria. If the hydrogen sulfide odor is associated primarily with the hot water system, a hot water heater modification may reduce the odor or you may need to pasteurize the system.

If the odor is stronger in the electric water tank, we recommend the following:. Turn off the system and drain the tank. Note any anomalies such as: the color and odor of the water, coatings, precipitates, or other solid materials. If the odor goes away it was most likely bacteria growing in the tank that is causing the problem. If the odor returns immediately it is likely a chemical reaction between the water and the sacrificial anode used in the system. If you have a well, we recommend that you also Shock-Disinfect the well and distribution system.

The presence of sulfate is easily determined in laboratory water tests. If you send your water to a laboratory for a test package that includes multiple tests, make sure that the test package you selected includes sulfate.

The same characteristic that causes hydrogen sulfide gas to rapidly escape from the water and cause an odor can be exploited to remove this gas from the water. Aeration systems designed specifically for hydrogen sulfide removal have an added advantage of removing high levels of iron and manganese, provided a filtration system is added after the aeration process.

Older style pressure tanks have a pocket of air in the top of the tank that allows the hydrogen gas to escape before the water is distributed throughout the house. The disadvantages of this method are:. There are other more expensive treatments for hydrogen sulfide removal that include oxidation with chlorine or permanganate and filtration through activated carbon.

Sulfate can be removed by distillation, reverse osmosis RO , or anion exchange resin. It is not necessary to remove sulfate from all the water — only drinking water needs to be treated. The University of Georgia and Ft.

Valley State University, the U. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service,The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences offers educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.