BIODESULPHURIZATION WITHIN NATURAL GAS IN OIL AND GAS FIELD

The presence of sulphur compounds in natural gas can interfere to the quality of natural gas. The decline of combustiongas capacity, metal instrument corrosion in gas piping, and the environmental pollution from gas emission can affect bytheir presence. Bio-filter is one of the methods that selected to reduce sulphur content in natural gas. A lab scale studyof hydrogen sulphide reduction in natural gas had conducted in oil and gas field using bio-filter method. The bio-filtersystem (±1 L volume) contains an active carbon and thiosulphide medium as a substrate, Thiobacillus thioparus as a single culture of sulphur bacteria, and Thiobacillus thioparus with sludge as a mixed culture of sulphur bacteria. Thestudy of hydrogen sulphide reduction was conducted with continuous flow line process. The gas flow rateapproximately 1.5 L/min with a fluctuate presence of Hydrogen sulphide (approximately 40 - 70 mg/L). The bio-filtersystem contains active carbon, thiosulphide medium, and single culture of T. thioparus appear as a good filter forhydrogen sulphide reduction. During 24 hours, the hydrogen sulphide reduction obtains 93% to 16%. When culturemedia added, the hydrogen sulphide reduction will increase almost 60% and then the reduction decrease to 4% after 20hours. It is concluded that the bio-filter have potential to develop for sulphur reduction in natural gas.Keywords: biofilter, hydrogen sulphide reductio