The Effect of Nitro‐compounds and Some Other Substances on Production of Hydrogen Sulphide by Sulphate‐reducing Bacteria in Sewage

Abstract

Summary. Development of hydrogen sulphidc in sewage, due to growth of sulphate‐reducing bacteria, is favoured by neutral or alkaline conditions and retarded by acidic conditions. Strains able to use lactate, formate, stearate, and cellulose as sources of carbon were detected by the use of appropriate media; no sulphate‐reducing bacteria capable of using tributyrin appeared to be present in the sample of sewage tested. Doses of chlorine much smaller than the chlorine demand delayed the formation of sulphide, sometimes for several days, but eventually the quantity formed was of the same order as that in untreated sewage. Addition to sewage of nitrobenzene, dinitrobenzene, picric acid, or T.N.T., in amounts ranging from 2 to 20 p.p.m. in different tests, delayed development of sulphide during subsequent incubation; sufficiently high concentrations prevented its formation for prolonged periods. Fumarate and nitrate also tended to inhibit formation of sulphide, but the concentrations required (100‐1,000 p.p.m. for nitrate and 1,000–10,000 p.p.m. for fumarate) were much higher than for the above nitro‐compounds. Neither T.N.T. nor picric acid had any marked bactericidal action. It is suggested that these nitro‐compounds retard the lowering of the oxidation‐reduction potential uf the sewage to the region favourable for development of the sulphate‐reducing anaerobes.

Competitive and Non-competitive Inhibitors of Bacterial Sulphate Reduction

“…The control of the growth and metabolic activities of Desulphovibrio desulphuricans is a problem of practical as well as of theoretical interest, in view of their role both in the anaerobic corrosion of ferrous pipes (von Wolzogen Kuhr & van der Vlugt, 1934; Bunker, 1936Bunker, ,1939 Hadley, 1943; Rogers, 1940Rogers, , 1945; Starkey &Wight, 1945; Starkey, 1947; Butlin &Vernon, 1949;Chemistry Research, 193846,1947 and in the pollution of water and sewage (Bunker, 1942; Rogers, 1945; Allen, 1949; Butlin, 1949). Hence the inhibition of these bacteria has been studied largely from a practical standpoint.…”

Isolation and Characterization of Strains CVO and FWKO B, Two Novel Nitrate-Reducing, Sulfide-Oxidizing Bacteria Isolated from Oil Field Brine

“…Nitrates stimulate the activity of indigenous nitrate-reducing, sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (NR-SOB) to lower sulfide concentrations as well as stimulating heterotrophic denitrifiers that can outcompete SRB for energy sources (e.g., organic acids). The use of nitrate to control H 2 S odors in sewer and other wastewater streams has been known for many years and continues to be of commercial interest (1,5,8,16,22,47). More recently, Jenneman et al (32) and Jack et al (27) demonstrated that addition of nitrate to sulfide-laden oil field brines could also be used to remove sulfides in these waters.…”

Isolation, Characterization and Growth Control of a Sulfate Reducing Bacteria From Sewage Water

“…Naphthalene is also proved to be an effective controlling agent of SRB. As reported earlier the addition of high concentrations of nitrate can generate nitrous oxide, which increases the redox potential, leading to long-term inhibition of sulfide production (Allen, 1949;Jenneman, 1986). Naphthalene also proved to be toxic for the microorganisms using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as carbon source (Gracia et al, 1998).…”

“…Therefore the need arises to make an extensive study on biological control of SRB. Nitrate is applied to control the growth of SRB and result in both transient and longterm inhibition of sulfide production (Allen, 1949). Naphthalene is also proved to be an effective controlling agent of SRB.…”