Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems

Anaerobic conditions often develop in sewage systems with long wastewater Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT). This applies especially to pressure systems of sanitary sewage systems, where sewage flows through the entire cross-section of the pipe. Such conditions favor the formation of biogenic hydrogen...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Krzysztof Tarnowski, Sławomira Bering, Anna Głowacka, Oliwia Paszkiewicz, Jacek Mazur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Desalination and Water Treatment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002036
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850231791356477440
author Krzysztof Tarnowski
Sławomira Bering
Anna Głowacka
Oliwia Paszkiewicz
Jacek Mazur
author_facet Krzysztof Tarnowski
Sławomira Bering
Anna Głowacka
Oliwia Paszkiewicz
Jacek Mazur
author_sort Krzysztof Tarnowski
collection DOAJ
description Anaerobic conditions often develop in sewage systems with long wastewater Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT). This applies especially to pressure systems of sanitary sewage systems, where sewage flows through the entire cross-section of the pipe. Such conditions favor the formation of biogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S).The resulting biogenic hydrogen sulfide may cause odor emissions into the environment, which may cause some nuisance to residents whose properties are located near sewage manholes. However, above all, hydrogen sulfide can cause the degradation of concrete elements of the sewage system, which is caused by sulfate corrosion of concrete.Research was carried out in the municipal sewage system, that discharges sewage from six villages. Significant degradation of concrete sewage manholes was observed after only five years of operation of the system. The degree of destruction varied greatly: from just a slight coating on the concrete surface to layers of corroded concrete several centimeters thick. After another six years, further significant destruction occurred, to the point of threatening the collapse of the well structure.To investigate the reasons for this state of affairs, measurements of hydrogen sulfide concentration were carried out in four selected expansion sewage wells. The measurement system consisted of two sensors: one placed just above the manhole base, the other located about 0.5 m under the manhole cover. The measurement was performed continuously for a period of at least 10 days for each well. The measured hydrogen sulfide concentration values ranged from 0 to values exceeding the sensor range (500 ppm).The operation register of the pumping stations was analyzed. On this basis, information about the expected sewage outflow from the pressure pipeline was obtained.The hydrogen sulfide concentration depended on the location of the well in the sewage system, which determined the residence time of sewage in the pressure pipeline preceding the well and generally influenced the residence time of sewage in the entire sewage system preceding the measurement site.However, the condition of the well was determined not by the maximum concentration of hydrogen sulfide, but by the total exposure of the concrete to hydrogen sulfide.
format Article
id doaj-art-7595f3565aa5481aac0fac5241cfbb62
institution OA Journals
issn 1944-3986
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Desalination and Water Treatment
spelling doaj-art-7595f3565aa5481aac0fac5241cfbb622025-08-20T02:03:25ZengElsevierDesalination and Water Treatment1944-39862025-04-0132210118710.1016/j.dwt.2025.101187Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systemsKrzysztof Tarnowski0Sławomira Bering1Anna Głowacka2Oliwia Paszkiewicz3Jacek Mazur4Corresponding author.; West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Al. Piastów 50, Szczecin 70-311, PolandWest Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Al. Piastów 50, Szczecin 70-311, PolandWest Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Al. Piastów 50, Szczecin 70-311, PolandWest Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Al. Piastów 50, Szczecin 70-311, PolandWest Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Al. Piastów 50, Szczecin 70-311, PolandAnaerobic conditions often develop in sewage systems with long wastewater Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT). This applies especially to pressure systems of sanitary sewage systems, where sewage flows through the entire cross-section of the pipe. Such conditions favor the formation of biogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S).The resulting biogenic hydrogen sulfide may cause odor emissions into the environment, which may cause some nuisance to residents whose properties are located near sewage manholes. However, above all, hydrogen sulfide can cause the degradation of concrete elements of the sewage system, which is caused by sulfate corrosion of concrete.Research was carried out in the municipal sewage system, that discharges sewage from six villages. Significant degradation of concrete sewage manholes was observed after only five years of operation of the system. The degree of destruction varied greatly: from just a slight coating on the concrete surface to layers of corroded concrete several centimeters thick. After another six years, further significant destruction occurred, to the point of threatening the collapse of the well structure.To investigate the reasons for this state of affairs, measurements of hydrogen sulfide concentration were carried out in four selected expansion sewage wells. The measurement system consisted of two sensors: one placed just above the manhole base, the other located about 0.5 m under the manhole cover. The measurement was performed continuously for a period of at least 10 days for each well. The measured hydrogen sulfide concentration values ranged from 0 to values exceeding the sensor range (500 ppm).The operation register of the pumping stations was analyzed. On this basis, information about the expected sewage outflow from the pressure pipeline was obtained.The hydrogen sulfide concentration depended on the location of the well in the sewage system, which determined the residence time of sewage in the pressure pipeline preceding the well and generally influenced the residence time of sewage in the entire sewage system preceding the measurement site.However, the condition of the well was determined not by the maximum concentration of hydrogen sulfide, but by the total exposure of the concrete to hydrogen sulfide.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002036Sewage systemHydrogen sulfide concrete corrosionExpansion wellHydraulic retention time (HRT) in pressure sewage pipes
spellingShingle Krzysztof Tarnowski
Sławomira Bering
Anna Głowacka
Oliwia Paszkiewicz
Jacek Mazur
Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
Desalination and Water Treatment
Sewage system
Hydrogen sulfide concrete corrosion
Expansion well
Hydraulic retention time (HRT) in pressure sewage pipes
title Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
title_full Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
title_fullStr Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
title_full_unstemmed Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
title_short Effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
title_sort effect of parameters of biogenic hydrogen sulfide emission on degradation of concrete wells in sanitary sewage systems
topic Sewage system
Hydrogen sulfide concrete corrosion
Expansion well
Hydraulic retention time (HRT) in pressure sewage pipes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002036
work_keys_str_mv AT krzysztoftarnowski effectofparametersofbiogenichydrogensulfideemissionondegradationofconcretewellsinsanitarysewagesystems
AT sławomirabering effectofparametersofbiogenichydrogensulfideemissionondegradationofconcretewellsinsanitarysewagesystems
AT annagłowacka effectofparametersofbiogenichydrogensulfideemissionondegradationofconcretewellsinsanitarysewagesystems
AT oliwiapaszkiewicz effectofparametersofbiogenichydrogensulfideemissionondegradationofconcretewellsinsanitarysewagesystems
AT jacekmazur effectofparametersofbiogenichydrogensulfideemissionondegradationofconcretewellsinsanitarysewagesystems