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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 17 April, 2021

  • 3 Min Read

Electronic nose to detect “Hydrogen Sulphide” from Sewers

Electronic nose to detect “Hydrogen Sulphide” from Sewers

  • Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bangalore have developed Electronic Nose to detect Hydrogen Sulphide from swamps and sewers.
  • CeNS is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology

About Hydrogen Sulphide:

  • Hydrogen Sulphide is the chemical compound with the formula H2S.
  • It is a colourless chalcogen hydride gas. It is with the characteristic foul odour of rotten eggs. (Chacogen – chalcogens are the chemical elements in group 16 of the periodic table).
  • Hydrogen Sulphide is slightly denser than air. It is also poisonous, corrosive and flammable.

How is Hydrogen Sulphide produced?

  • Hydrogen sulfide is often produced from the microbial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen gas, such as in swamps and sewers.
  • This process is commonly known as anaerobic digestion.
  • It occurs naturally in crude oil, natural gas, and hot springs.
  • H2S also occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas and in some sources of well water.
  • The human body also produces small amounts of H2S and uses it as a signalling molecule.

Impact of Hydrogen Sulphide on Health:

  • The health effects of hydrogen sulphide depend on how much H2S a person inhales and for how long.
  • Exposure to Hydrogen Sulphide includes headaches, memory loss, and problems with the cardiovascular system.
  • However, many effects are seen even at low concentrations. Effects range from mild, headaches or eye irritation to very serious, unconsciousness and death.

Source: PIB


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