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Zuo Z, Xing Y, Lu X, Liu T, Zheng M, Guo M, Liu Y, Huang X. Nitrite-dependent microbial utilization for simultaneous removal of sulfide and methane in sewers. WATER RESEARCH X 2024; 24:100231. [PMID: 39070728 PMCID: PMC11277765 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Chemicals are commonly dosed in sewer systems to reduce the emission of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4), incurring high costs and environmental concerns. Nitrite dosing is a promising approach as nitrite can be produced from urine wastewater, which is a feasible integrated water management strategy. However, nitrite dosing usually requires strict conditions, e.g., relatively high nitrite concentration (e.g., ∼200 mg N/L) and acidic environment, to inhibit microorganisms. In contrast to "microbial inhibition", this study proposes "microbial utilization" concept, i.e., utilizing nitrite as a substrate for H2S and CH4 consumption in sewer. In a laboratory-scale sewer reactor, nitrite at a relatively low concentrations of 25-48 mg N/L was continuously dosed. Two nitrite-dependent microbial utilization processes, i.e., nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) and microbial sulfide oxidation, successfully occurred in conjunction with nitrite reduction. The occurrence of both processes achieved a 58 % reduction in dissolved methane and over 90 % sulfide removal in the sewer reactor, with microbial activities measured as 15.6 mg CH4/(L·h) and 29.4 mg S/(L·h), respectively. High copy numbers of n-DAMO bacteria and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) were detected in both sewer biofilms and sediments. Mechanism analysis confirmed that the dosed nitrite at a relatively low level did not cause the inhibition of sulfidogenic process due to the downward migration of activity zones in sewer sediments. Therefore, the proposed "microbial utilization" concept offers a new alternative for simultaneous removal of sulfide and methane in sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Yaxin Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xi Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tao Liu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, PR China
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Miao Guo
- Department of Engineering, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
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Comparison of Online Sensors for Liquid Phase Hydrogen Sulphide Monitoring in Sewer Systems. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13131876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) related to wastewater in sewer systems is known for causing significant problems of corrosion and odor nuisance. Sewer systems severely affected by H2S typically rely on online H2S gas sensors for monitoring and control. However, these H2S gas sensors only provide information about the H2S emission potential at the point being monitored, which is sometimes inadequate to design control measures. In this study, a comparison of three market-ready online sensors capable of liquid-phase H2S detection in sewer systems was assessed and compared. Two of the three sensors are based on UV/Vis spectrophotometry, while the other adapted the design and principles of a Clark-type electrochemical microsensor. The H2S measurements of the sensors were statistically compared to a standard laboratory method at first. Following that, the performance of the online sensors was evaluated under realistic sewer conditions using the Berlin Water Company (BWB) research sewer pilot plant. Test applications representing scenarios of typical H2S concentrations found in sulfide-affected sewers and during control measures were simulated. The UV/Vis spectrometers showed that the performance of the sensors was highly dependent on the calibration type and measurements used for deriving the calibration function. The electrochemical sensor showed high sensitivity by responding to alternating anaerobic/anoxic conditions simulated during nitrate dosing. All sensors were prone to measurement disturbances due to high amounts of sanitary solids in wastewater at the study site and required continuous maintenance for reliable measurements. Finally, a summary of the key attributes and limitations of the sensors compared for liquid phase H2S detection is outlined.
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