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A new method for the determination of dissolved sulfide in strongly colored anaerobically treated effluents

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Abstract

A simple method for dissolved sulfide determination in colored complex media was developed using ion exchange chromatography. Its principle is based on the complete oxidation of an unstable compound (sulfide) into its stable form (sulfate) through a strong oxidant: hydrogen peroxide. The difference between sample analyzed before and after this treatment gives the total dissolved sulfide. In order to avoid H2S exhaust, this oxidation has to be performed immediately after sampling, without cell separation. In that way, standard solutions were prepared using raw anaerobic effluents from an industrial plant. It was shown in the calibration curve that no bacterial interaction was present. Finally, sulfide from continuous and discontinuous digestions of these sulfate rich wastewaters were successfully assayed by this technique. A theoretical evaluation based on Henry's law and the sulfide dissociation equilibrium led to a very good agreement with the analytical results.

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Abbreviations

[SO 2−4 ]in(mmol/l):

Sulfate effluents concentration

[SO 2−4 ]out(mmol/l):

Outgoing sulfate concentration

[S d ]-(mmol/l):

Total dissolved sulfide

[H2S] s (mmol/l):

Soluble free sulfide

[H2S] G (mmol/l):

Gaseous sulfide

% [H2S] G (-):

Fraction of H2S in the gas phase

f (-):

Fraction of free H2S in solution

α (-):

Absorption coefficient,α is 1.74 at 37.5°C

K-(mol):

Sulfide equilibrium constant,K is 1.59 10−7M at 37.5°C

QL(ml/l.d):

Liquid flow

QG(ml/l.d):

Gas flow

TKN(mg/l):

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

TOC(mg/l):

Total Organic Carbon

TCOD(mg/l):

Total Chemical Oxygen Demand

SCOD(mg/l):

Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand

TVFA(mg/l):

Total Volatile Fatty Acids

TSS(mg/l):

Total Suspended Solids

VSS(mg/l):

Volatile Suspended Solids

Vm(1/mol):

Volume of one mole of perfect gas:Vm=25.5 l/mol at 37.5°C

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environement, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Avenue des Etangs, 11100, Narbonne, France

    G. Percheron, N. Bernet & R. Moletta

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  1. G. Percheron
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  2. N. Bernet
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  3. R. Moletta
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Additional information

This study was supported by a research grant from the “Agence de l'Environement et de la Maitrise de l'Energie”, (ADEME) Paris, France. The authors would like to express their gratitude to A. Bories for his valuable advice.

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Percheron, G., Bernet, N. & Moletta, R. A new method for the determination of dissolved sulfide in strongly colored anaerobically treated effluents. Bioprocess Engineering 15, 317–322 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02426441

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02426441

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