Dynamics and dynamic modelling of H2S production in sewer systems

Sharma, Keshab; Yuan, Zhiguo; Haas, David de; Hamilton, Geoff; Corrie, Shaun; Keller, Jürg

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.02.013

Cited by 154 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…are also able to use various substrates such as hydrogen, acetate, and lactate (55,56). It is recognized that hydrogen, acetate, and propionate are important electron donors for sulfate reduction in sewer systems (33,34). However, in this study, we also observed the proliferation of SRB, which normally use on large-molecule organic substrates rather than on hydrogen, acetate, and propionate for growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

Stratified Microbial Structure and Activity in Sulfide- and Methane-Producing Anaerobic Sewer Biofilms

Sun

Sharma

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

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103

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bSimultaneous production of sulfide and methane by anaerobic sewer biofilms has recently been observed, suggesting that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and methanogenic archaea (MA), microorganisms known to compete for the same substrates, can coexist in this environment. This study investigated the community structures and activities of SRB and MA in anaerobic sewer biofilms (average thickness of 800 m) using a combination of microelectrode measurements, molecular techniques, and mathematical modeling. It was seen that sulfide was mainly produced in the outer layer of the biofilm, between the depths of 0 and 300 m, which is in good agreement with the distribution of SRB population as revealed by cryosection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). SRB had a higher relative abundance of 20% on the surface layer, which decreased gradually to below 3% at a depth of 400 m. In contrast, MA mainly inhabited the inner layer of the biofilm. Their relative abundances increased from 10% to 75% at depths of 200 m and 700 m, respectively, from the biofilm surface layer. High-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons showed that SRB in the biofilm were mainly affiliated with five genera, Desulfobulbus, Desulfomicrobium, Desulfovibrio, Desulfatiferula, and Desulforegula, while about 90% of the MA population belonged to the genus Methanosaeta. The spatial organizations of SRB and MA revealed by pyrosequencing were consistent with the FISH results. A biofilm model was constructed to simulate the SRB and MA distributions in the anaerobic sewer biofilm. The good fit between model predictions and the experimental data indicate that the coexistence and spatial structure of SRB and MA in the biofilm resulted from the microbial types and their metabolic transformations and interactions with substrates. Sewer biofilms comprise complex multispecies microflora with a typical thickness of only about 1 mm (1). Depending on the electron donors and electron acceptors present in the wastewater, different carbon transformation processes can occur in close proximity in the sewer biofilms. Domestic wastewater normally contains a significant concentration (ca. 100 to 1,000 M) of sulfate but negligible nitrite and nitrate concentrations (2, 3). Therefore, under anaerobic conditions (which normally occur in pressure sewers fully filled with wastewater), sulfate reduction carried out by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) could be an important terminal electron-accepting process in the sewer biofilms. The sulfate reduction activity in anaerobic sewers is important, as the production of sulfide can be transferred to the gas phase of partially filled gravity sewers and cause extensive corrosion of concrete sewer pipes (4, 5). Also, the emission of sulfide from sewers can cause odor problems for the surrounding area and pose health risks to sewer workers (6, 7). Apart from sulfate reduction, methanogenesis caused by the respiration of methanogenic archaea (MA) could also be a key terminal process in anaerobic sewer biofilms (8, 9). Guisasola and ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

Stratified Microbial Structure and Activity in Sulfide- and Methane-Producing Anaerobic Sewer Biofilms

Sun

Sharma

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

Self Cite

103

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“…Thereafter, the system operated under pseudo-steady-state conditions, being able to remove the entire load with an average RE above 99%. The system was subject to typical daily variations of the inlet load (Figure 2b) at any WWTP (Gabriel and Deshusses, 2003 PNAS;Sharma et al, 2008). The profile shows lower concentrations during the first hours of the day increasing to maximum values in the late afternoon with random sudden concentration peaks occurring along the day.…”

Section: H 2 S Removal Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Conversion of chemical scrubbers to biotrickling filters for VOCs and H2S treatment at low contact times

Santos

Guimerà

Dorado

et al. 2014

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

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The purpose of this work was to evaluate the technical and economical feasibility of converting three in-series chemical scrubbers to biotrickling filters for the simultaneous removal at neutral pH of 10000 m 3 /h containing H 2 S and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The conversion was based on previous conversion protocols and mainly required of replacing the original packing material by a structured packing and recycle pumps, besides modifying the controls and operation of the reactors. Complete removal of H 2 S and VOCs on a routine basis was reached in a longer period of time compared to previous conversions reported. Under the conditions at the WWTP, i.e., a gas contact time of about 1.4 seconds per reactor and pH controlled between 6.5 and 6.8, inlet average concentrations below 10 ppm v of H 2 S and below 5 ppm v for VOCs were often completely degraded in the reactors. The first and second reactors played a major role in H 2 S removal. Long-term operation of the biotrickling filters proved the ability of the biotrickling filter to handle progressive load variations of H 2 S and VOCs. However, fast, sudden load changes often lead to reduced removal efficciencies. Odor removal showed average efficiencies above 80%. Limited outlet odor concentration was attributed to limited removal of VOCs, which was assessed through gas chromatographymass spectrometry of selected gas samples. The conversion showed as economically viable taking into account the theoretical consumption of chemicals needed for the absorption and oxidation of both H 2 S and VOCs.

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“…Sulphate is also an important parameter as high concentrations of sulphur containing compounds means that the availability of sulphur is not limiting the parameter for sulphide production. Nevertheless, the availability of sulphur containing compounds such as sulphate are sometimes a limiting factor for sulphide production (Nielsen & Hvitved-Jacobsen 1988;Sharma et al 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

Impact of water source management practices in residential areas on sewer networks – a review

Marleni

Gray

Sharma

et al. 2012

Water Science and Technology

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Prolonged drought which is occurred everywhere around the world has caused water shortages, leading many countries to consider more sustainable practices which are called Source Management Practices (SMPs) to ensure water availability for the future. SMPs include the practices of water use reduction, potable water substitution and wastewater volume reduction such as water demand management, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and sewer mining. Besides the well known advantages from SMPs, however they also contribute to the alteration of wastewater characteristics which finally affecting the process in downstream infrastructure such as sewerage networks. Several studies have shown that the implementation of SMPs decreases the wastewater flow, whilst increasing its strength. High strength wastewater can cause sewer problems such as sewer blockage, odour and corrosion. Yet, not all SMPs and their impact on existing sewer networks have been investigated. Therefore, this study reviews some examples of four common SMPs, the wastewater characteristics and the physical and biochemical transformation processes in sewer and the problems that might caused by them and at last, the potential impacts of those SMPs on wastewater characteristics and sewer networks are discussed. This paper provides sewer system managers with an overview of potential impacts on the sewer network due to the implementation of some SMPs. Potential research opportunities for the impact of SMPs on existing sewers are also identified.

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Dynamics and dynamic modelling of H2S production in sewer systems

Cited by 154 publications

References 12 publications

Stratified Microbial Structure and Activity in Sulfide- and Methane-Producing Anaerobic Sewer Biofilms

Stratified Microbial Structure and Activity in Sulfide- and Methane-Producing Anaerobic Sewer Biofilms

Conversion of chemical scrubbers to biotrickling filters for VOCs and H2S treatment at low contact times

Impact of water source management practices in residential areas on sewer networks – a review

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