Chemical sulfide oxidation of wastewater--effects of pH and temperature

In this study, the kinetics and stoichiometry of chemical sulfide oxidation of wastewater from sewer networks were investigated. Based on experiments, it was shown that the stoichiometry could be considered identical for wastewater from two sampling sites. However, the kinetics differed significantly among the wastewaters from the two sites. Effects of pH and temperature were investigated in the pH and temperature ranges 5-9 and 5-25 degrees C, respectively. The rate of chemical sulfide oxidation could be related to the dissociation of H2S to HS-, with HS- being oxidized at a higher rate than H2S. The temperature dependency of the chemical sulfide oxidation rate was described using an Arrhenius relationship. The oxidation rate was found to double with a temperature increase of 12 degrees C. The stoichiometry of the chemical oxidation was not significantly affected by varying pH and temperature. Based on the experiments, a general rate equation, including a stoichiometric coefficient describing chemical sulfide oxidation in wastewater was proposed, enabling the process to be incorporated into sewer process models that can predict odor and corrosion problems.