Experimental and modeling investigations on the unexpected hydrogen sulfide rebound in a sewer receiving nitrate addition: Mechanism and solution

Biogenic hydrogen sulfide is an odorous, toxic and corrosive gas released from sewage in sewers. To control sulfide generation and emission, nitrate is extensively applied in sewer systems for decades. However, the unexpected sulfide rebound after nitrate addition is being questioned in recent studies. Possible reasons for the sulfide rebounds have been studied,but the mechanism is still unclear, so the countermeasure is not yet proposed. In this study, a lab-scale sewer system was developed for investigating the unexpected sulfide rebounds via the traditional strategy of nitrate addition during 195-days of operation. It was observed that the sulfide pollution was even severe in a sewer receiving nitrate addition. The mechanism for the sulfide rebound can be differentiated into short-term and long-term effects based on the dominant contribution. The accumulation of intermediate elemental sulfur in biofilm resulted in a rapid sulfide rebound via the high-rate sulfur reduction after the depletion of nitrate in a short period. The presence of nitrate in sewer promoted the microorganism proliferation in biofilm, increased the biofilm thickness, re-shaped the microbial community and enhanced biological denitrification and sulfur production, which further weakened the effect of nitrate on sulfide control during the long-term operation. An optimized biofilminitiated sewer process model demonstrated that neither the intermittent nitrate addition nor the continuous nitrate addition was a sustainable strategy for the sulfide control. To minimize the negative impact from sulfide rebounds, a(bi)monthly routine maintenance(e.g., hydraulic flushing with nitrate spike) to remove the proliferative microorganism in biofilm is necessary.

ZrB_2 particles reinforced glass coating for oxidation protection of carbon/carbon composites

A dense ZrB_2 particles reinforced glass(ZrB_2/SiO_2) coating was prepared on the SiC coated carbon/carbon composites by a facile sol-dipping approach. The prepared ZrB2/SiO2 coating could protect the composites from being oxidized for 160 h at 1773 K with a weight loss of 6.9 mg/cm^2. The flexural strength retention ratio of the ZrB_2/SiO_2 coated composites is 87% after oxidation for 160 h at1773 K. The continuous SiO_2 glass layer embedded with the submicron ZrSiO_4 particles was formed during oxidation. This was helpful to lower the diffusion rate of oxygen and improve the stability of SiO_2 glass film, thus improving the oxidation resistance of the coated samples. After thermal cycles between 1773 K and room temperature for 15 times, penetrated cracks formed in the coating. The weight loss of the ZrB_2/SiO_2 coated sample presented linear relationship, and the final weight loss per unit area was 6.35 mg/cm^2. The generation of the penetrative cracks and the debonded coating interface resulted in the failure of the ZrB_2/SiO_2 coating.