A method for scavenging hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans from a fluid selected from the group consisting of a liquid aqueous phase, a liquid hydrocarbon phase, a liquid aqueous phase together with a hydrocarbon gaseous phase, a liquid hydrocarbon phase together with a gaseous hydrocarbon phase, and mixtures thereof, the method comprising contacting the fluid with a composition for synergistically scavenging hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans, where the composition comprises:
- from about 0.05 wt % to 35.5 wt % of at least one transition metal salt, and ethylene glycol hemiformal in a balance amount
- where synergistically scavenging is defined as the amount of hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans scavenged is greater as compared with a composition where either the transition metal salt or the ethylene glycol hemiformal is absent, used in the same total amount.