Utilizing Electricity-Producing Bacteria Flora to Mitigate Hydrogen Sulfide Generation in Sewers through an Electron-Pathway Enabled Conductive Concrete

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of using biological oxidation for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) control. A long-term experiment was conducted using a rod-shaped electrode made of highly conductive concrete, which provided an electron pathway for H2S mitigation. Bacterial flora analysis was conducted using PCR-DGGE and metagenomic analysis by next-generation sequencing to identify electricity-producing bacteria. Results showed that H2S was effectively mitigated, and electricity-producing bacteria, including Geobacter sp. and Pelobacter sp., were found around the inner surface of the anode. The study found that highly conductive concrete can create an electron pathway for biological oxidation of H2S. Oxygen from the air layer near the surface of the water can act as an electron acceptor, even under anaerobic conditions, enabling effective H2S control in sewer systems.

Keywords

• hydrogen sulfide
• sewer pipe
• conductive concrete
• electron pathway
• electricity-producing bacteria
• PCR-DGGE