Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) poses significant problems to municipal collections systems due to its malodorous smell, danger to human health and corrosive effect on infrastructure. Application of various chemical treatments such as precipitants, oxidizers, and nitrates can be used to mitigate H2S; however, these options require significant annual costs and often do not address the root of the problem. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) utilize sulfate to generate energy and expel H2S as a byproduct of respiration. SRB live primarily in biofilms and within anaerobic environments which can be intensified by the buildup of fats, oils, and grease (FOG). In this session, we'll discuss why bioaugmentation is an effective treatment option that prevents H2S from forming by removing sources of sulfate, food, and habitat that SRB need to thrive. We will cover real-world applications, including twenty municipal systems that were treated with a Bacillus-based bioaugmentation product for H2S issues, ranging from nuisance odor to extensive corrosive damage and extreme health hazards. Treatment resulted in H2S reduction in 90% of systems with an average H2S reduction of 68% amongst successful applications. Results show that bioaugmentation products reliably and significantly lower H2S levels in collection systems.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Explain how hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is generated, its variables, dangers, economics tied to its corrosive damage, and mitigation costs.
2. Identify technologies used to mitigate H2S, how they work, shortcomings, and how bioaugmentation can be utilized.
3. Discuss application case studies with significant H2S challenges and how they were mitigated.