Effects of long-term pH elevation on the sulfate-reducing and methanogenic activities of anaerobic sewer biofilms

The dosage of alkali is often applied by the wastewater industry to reduce the transfer of hydrogen sulfide from wastewater to the sewer atmosphere. In this paper the activities of Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) and Methanogenic Archaea (MA) under elevated pH conditions (8.6 and 9.0) were evaluated in a laboratory scale anaerobic sewer reactor. Compared to those in a control reactor without pH control (pH 7.6 ± 0.1), the SRB activity was reduced by 30% and 50%, respectively, at pH 8.6 and pH 9.0. When normal pH was resumed, it took approximately 1 month for the SRB activity to fully recover. Methanogenic activities developed in the control reactor in 3 months after the reactor start-up, while no significant methanogenic activities were detected in the experimental reactor until normal pH was resumed. The results suggest that elevated pH at 8.6-9.0 suppressed the growth of methanogens. These experimental results clearly showed that, in addition to its well-known effect of reducing H₂S transfer from the liquid to the gas phase, pH elevation considerably reduces sulfide and methane production by anaerobic sewer biofilms. These findings are significant for the optimal use of alkali addition to sewers for the control of H₂S and CH₄ emissions. A model-based study showed that, by adding the alkali at the beginning rather than towards the end of a rising main, substantial savings in chemicals can be achieved while achieving the same level of sulfide emission control, and complete methane emission control.