Application of Conductive Concrete as a Microbial Fuel Cell to Control H₂S Emission for Mitigating Sewer Corrosion

Abstract

Localized biogenic corrosion and extrication of annoying odors caused by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have long been a big problem in the management of urban sewer systems. H2S emission control in sewers via chemically or biologically normal oxidation processes has also been investigated extensively and is costly. The objective of this work was to develop a new technology to mitigate the concentration of H2S in sewer pipes using conductive concrete. Experimental results after 66 days show that the concentration of hydrogen sulfide significantly decreased when conductive concrete was used as a microbial fuel cell. Both ordinary Portland cement and conductive concrete were utilized for the target experiment. Elemental sulfur was observed in the coating sludge of conductive concrete, whereas this trend was not observed for ordinary Portland cement. These observations demonstrate that conductive concrete provides an electron pathway from deposited sludge in the bottom of sewer pipes to oxygen dissolved in surface water electrons generated from hydrogen sulfide oxidation in an anaerobic environment via conductive concrete. Finally, regarding the mechanism responsible for hydrogen sulfide oxidation, chemical oxidation was the dominant process, and biological processes did not play a significant role.

Keywords

• hydrogen sulfide
• sewer pipe
• conductive concrete
• amorphous carbon
• elemental sulfur