Inhibition of sulfate-reducing and methanogenic activities of anaerobic sewer biofilms by ferric iron dosing

Zhang, Lishan; Keller, Jürg; Yuan, Zhiguo

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.06.013

Cited by 172 publications

(121 citation statements)

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“…Various chemical dosing methods are used to lower hydrogen sulfide production in sewers, and four strategies currently used include sulfide oxidation by the injection of chemical oxidants, such as air, oxygen, or nitrate (5,6); sulfide precipitation by addition of iron salts (7); application of magnesium hydroxide or lime to raise the wastewater pH and prevent the release of hydrogen sulfide (8); and inhibition of the activities of SRB to lessen the generation of hydrogen sulfide (9). However, to obtain the required sulfide control, these strategies require continuous chemical consumption and considerable operational costs (10).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial Effects of Free Nitrous Acid on Desulfovibrio vulgaris: Implications for Sulfide-Induced Corrosion of Concrete

Gao

Lü

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Hydrogen sulfide produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in sewers causes odor problems and asset deterioration due to the sulfide-induced concrete corrosion. Free nitrous acid (FNA) was recently demonstrated as a promising antimicrobial agent to alleviate hydrogen sulfide production in sewers. However, details of the antimicrobial mechanisms of FNA are largely unknown. Here, we report the multiple-targeted antimicrobial effects of FNA on the SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough by determining the growth, physiological, and gene expression responses to FNA exposure. The activities of growth, respiration, and ATP generation were inhibited when exposed to FNA. These changes were reflected in the transcript levels detected during exposure. The removal of FNA was evident by nitrite reduction that likely involved nitrite reductase and the poorly characterized hybrid cluster protein, and the genes coding for these proteins were highly expressed. During FNA exposure, lowered ribosome activity and protein production were detected. Additionally, conditions within the cells were more oxidizing, and there was evidence of oxidative stress. Based on an interpretation of the measured responses, we present a model depicting the antimicrobial effects of FNA on D. vulgaris. These findings provide new insight for understanding the responses of D. vulgaris to FNA and will provide a foundation for optimal application of this antimicrobial agent for improved control of sewer corrosion and odor management. S ulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are anaerobic chemoorganotrophic microorganisms that typically use sulfate as the terminal electron acceptor for respiration and generate energy with the production of hydrogen sulfide (2). In confined spaces, the production of hydrogen sulfide can cause odor and corrosion problems. This is particularly the case in sewers and inlet structures of wastewater treatment plants, where the oxidation of sulfide produces sulfuric acid, which corrodes the concrete surfaces of the sewer. This results in serious deterioration of sewer assets that requires very costly and demanding rehabilitation efforts (3, 4). Consequently, there is great interest in the efficient control of SRB and thereby minimizing hydrogen sulfide production in sewers.Various chemical dosing methods are used to lower hydrogen sulfide production in sewers, and four strategies currently used include sulfide oxidation by the injection of chemical oxidants, such as air, oxygen, or nitrate (5, 6); sulfide precipitation by addition of iron salts (7); application of magnesium hydroxide or lime to raise the wastewater pH and prevent the release of hydrogen sulfide (8); and inhibition of the activities of SRB to lessen the generation of hydrogen sulfide (9). However, to obtain the required sulfide control, these strategies require continuous chemical consumption and considerable operational costs (10).Free nitrous acid (FNA), the protonated form of nitrite, was recently demonstrated to be the true metabolic inhibitor behind the usu...

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confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial Effects of Free Nitrous Acid on Desulfovibrio vulgaris: Implications for Sulfide-Induced Corrosion of Concrete

Gao

Lü

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…These chemicals include magnesium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, iron salts, free nitrous acid (FNA), nitrate, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, chlorine, and permanganate. There are three main mechanisms for these chemicals in controlling MIC: (1) raising the pH of sewage and hence reducing the H 2 S state sulfide in sewage, such as by using magnesium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide [34]; (2) inhibiting SRB growth, thus reducing the production of sulfide, such as by using iron salt [35,36], FNA [37], nitrate [38][39][40], magnesium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide; and (3) oxidizing sulfide directly, such as by using oxygen [41], ozone, hydrogen peroxide, chloride and permanganate [42].…”

Section: Changing Sewer Tunnel Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Sustainability of Concrete in Sewer Tunnel—A Narrative Review of Acid Corrosion in the City of Edmonton, Canada

Hu²,

Liu

2018

Sustainability

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This paper is intended to conduct a narrative review on the acid corrosion of sewer tunnel concrete in the City of Edmonton-an investigation on the MIC (microbially induced corrosion) mechanism and the potential control methods to improve the sustainability of concrete. Firstly, three categories of main influencing factors were identified for the rate of MIC: hydraulic parameters, environmental factors, and concrete mixture design. Secondly, it is found that the sewer tunnel design plays an essential role in the control of the MIC. Building on that, a review was conducted on eight municipal drainage design standards in consideration of the MIC, indicating a lack of design standards of the flow velocity and pipe material. Finally, an investigation was done for cement-based rehabilitating techniques and materials.

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“…Ferric irons Zhang et al (2009) investigated the impact of long-term ferric chloride dosing (ca. 21 mg/L) on methanogenic activity of sewer biofilms, and reported that effluent methane concentrations of a sewer reactor were reduced by 43%, together with almost complete removal of sulfide (i.e., 99%).…”

Section: Nitratementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most commonly used chemicals include oxygen, nitrate, iron salts and alkali. In addition to sulfide control, these chemicals can simultaneously induce inhibitory effects on methanogens in sewers, thus leading to possible methane elimination , Gutierrez et al, 2014, Jiang et al, 2013b, Zhang et al, 2009). …”

Section: Evaluating the Feasibility Of Chemical Dosing On Methane Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most commonly used chemicals include oxygen and nitrate for sulfide oxidation, iron salts for sulfide precipitation, and alkali for pH elevation to minimize liquid to gas mass transfer of hydrogen sulfide (Ganigue et al, 2011. In addition to sulfide control, these chemicals can simultaneously induce inhibitory effects on methanogens in sewers, thus leading to possible methane elimination , Gutierrez et al, 2014, Jiang et al, 2013, Zhang et al, 2009. For example, a recent study conducted by Mohanakrishnan et al (2009a) demonstrated that the long-term addition of 30 mg N/L of nitrate in a laboratory rising main sewer reactor reduced the sulfide and methane concentrations in the effluent by 66% and 94%, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measurement and understanding of methane emission from sewers

Liu¹

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Sewer emissions are a notorious problem that water utilities have to deal with. The production and emission of hydrogen sulfide is a well-known problem for decades, which is the primary cause of sewer odors and corrosion. However, hydrogen sulfide is not the only harmful emission from sewer networks. Methane can also be generated in sewers through methanogenesis. Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, which is significantly contributing to climate change. Over a 100-year horizon, 1 ton of CH 4 will induce a warming effect equivalent to 34 tons of CO 2 . It is also explosive with a lower explosive limit (LEL) of approximately 5% by volume, and thus poses a serious safety issue. Currently, very little attention has been paid to methane formation in sewer networks.Therefore, the overall aim of this thesis is to measure and understand methane emission from sewers.The limited studies conducted so far on methane measurement in both gas and liquid phases in sewers have relied on manual sampling followed by off-line laboratory-based chromatography analysis. These methods are labor-intensive when measuring methane emissions from a large number of sewers, and do not capture the dynamic variations in methane production.Therefore, the suitability of infrared (IR) spectroscopy-based online methane gas sensors for measuring methane in humid sewer air was investigated in both laboratory and field conditions. Under certain circumstances, humidity could become an issue, however, this can be solved by removing the humidity on the sensor probe surface. Also, IR sensors exhibit excellent linearity and can be applied with factory calibration. Furthermore, the detection limit of sensors is suitable for measuring methane gas in sewers. Field application of the sensors revealed that methane concentrations in sewer air are 3 -4 orders of magnitude higher than in the atmosphere, confirming that sewers are a source of methane. The continuous measurement also revealed that methane concentrations in sewer are highly dynamic.Complementary to the gas phase sensors, a new dissolved methane sensor was developed in this thesis. This device uses an online IR gas-phase methane sensor to measure methane under equilibrium conditions in a stripping chamber. The measured gaseous methane levels were then II converted to liquid-phase methane concentrations according to Henry's Law. The detection limit and range was noted to be suitable for sewer applications. Good linearity was also obtained during Contributions of sediments in gravity sewers to overall sewer emissions are poorly understood at present. Sediments collected from a gravity sewer were cultivated in a laboratory reactor fed with real wastewater for more than one year to obtain intact sediments for the study. Batch test results clearly showed significant sulfide and methane production from sewer sediments. Microsensor and pore water measurements of sulfide, sulfate and methane in the sediments, microbial community profiling along the depth of the sediments and mathematical modelli...

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Inhibition of sulfate-reducing and methanogenic activities of anaerobic sewer biofilms by ferric iron dosing

Cited by 172 publications

References 28 publications

Antimicrobial Effects of Free Nitrous Acid on Desulfovibrio vulgaris: Implications for Sulfide-Induced Corrosion of Concrete

Antimicrobial Effects of Free Nitrous Acid on Desulfovibrio vulgaris: Implications for Sulfide-Induced Corrosion of Concrete

The Sustainability of Concrete in Sewer Tunnel—A Narrative Review of Acid Corrosion in the City of Edmonton, Canada

Measurement and understanding of methane emission from sewers

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