Method of reducing the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in a gas stream

A method for reducing the concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in a gas stream comprising the steps of:

• winding a polyurethane mat into a coiled cylinder (33) at a winding tension of about 1 lbs/ft to about 40 lbs/ft, the polyurethane mat having a first planar surface and a second surface having an array of uniform protrusions extending therefrom, the polyurethane mat having a density of about 1 lbs/ft3 to about 3 lbs/ft3 and an indentation load deflection of about 35 lbs to about 150 lbs, the tops of the protrusions of the array of uniform protrusions contacting the first planar surface in the coiled cylinder and defining turbulence generating tortuous flowpaths along the length within the coiled cylinder;
• inoculating the polyurethane mat with a biomass that is capable of breaking down or oxidizing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) into non-odorous compounds;
• placing the coiled cylinder into a reaction chamber (3) of a cylindrical reactor module (13) having an inlet port (15) in the lower end of the cylindrical reactor module (13)
• introducing a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) into the inlet port (15) at a flow rate resulting in an empty bed residence time (EBRT) of approximately seven seconds;
• flowing the gas stream into a lower end of the coiled cylinder, through the tortuous flowpaths and into contact with the biomass for a period of time sufficient to breakdown or oxidize the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) present into non-odorous compounds;
• spraying water atop the coiled cylinder;
• and
• flowing the gas stream which has passed through the tortuous flowpaths out of an outlet (21) at an upper end of the cylindrical reactor module (13), the gas stream exiting the cylindrical reactor module (13) having a significantly reduced hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration as compared to an inlet concentration of sulfide (H2S).