Chemical and biological technologies for hydrogen sulfide emission control in sewer systems: A review

Biogenic corrosion of sewers represents a cost of about 10% of total sewage treatment cost in Flanders (Belgium) and is further increasing. In the past, research has resulted in a number of prevention methods, such as injection of air, oxygen, H2O2, NaClO, FeCl3 and FeSO4. The possibility of biological oxidation of sulfide using nitrate as the electron acceptor has also been explored in sewer systems. However, all of these methods have a problem with the high cost (€1.9–7.2 kg−1 S removal). In this review, new approaches for hydrogen sulfide emission control in sewer systems are discussed. The control of hydrogen sulfide emission by using a microbial fuel cell (MFC) can be cost-effective while the BOD is removed partially. The use of phages that target sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can possibly inhibit sulfide formation. Novel inhibitors, such as slow release solid-phase oxygen (MgO2/CaO2) and formaldehyde, warrant further study to control hydrogen sulfide emission in sewer systems.