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Control of sulfides in gravity sewer pipelines using coated sustained-release granules: Efficiency and mechanisms.

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Title: Control of sulfides in gravity sewer pipelines using coated sustained-release granules: Efficiency and mechanisms.
Authors: Huang T; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China., Zhang J; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China., Liu Y; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China., Li L; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China., Ren Y; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China., Lu J; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Institute for Interdisciplinary and Innovate Research, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China., Zhang Z; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Institute for Interdisciplinary and Innovate Research, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resources, Environment, and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: zzq@xauat.edu.cn.
Source: Water research [Water Res] 2026 Oct 15; Vol. 305, pp. 126533. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 19.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0105072 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-2448 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00431354 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Water Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Oxford, Pergamon Press.
MeSH Terms: Sulfides*/chemistry , Waste Disposal, Fluid*/methods , Sewage*, Ferrous Compounds/chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Biofilms ; Bioreactors ; Delayed-Action Preparations
Abstract: To address the challenges in sewer systems where continuous wastewater flow renders conventional iron salt dosing ineffective for long-term control, and where iron salts cause a sharp pH decline and structural weakening of pipelines, this study developed a coated sustained-release ferrous chloride granule (PMDI‑Fe2+). Under long‑term operation of laboratory‑scale reactors, the results showed that at a PMDI‑Fe2+ dosage of 0.045 % (w/v), the half‑maximal recovery time (RT50) of the sulfide production rate was 9 days; at a flow velocity of 0.6 m/s, iron ions were sustainably released for 45 hours. The granules control sulfide through a dual biological and chemical mechanism: on the one hand, they elevate the oxidation‑reduction potential and zeta potential of the wastewater, disrupt biofilm structure, and reduce both the diversity of sulfur‑metabolizing microorganisms and the expression of key genes; on the other hand, they directly remove sulfide via chemical precipitation. The sustained‑release characteristic of PMDI‑Fe2+ avoids a sharp pH drop (the pH decreased from 6.29 to 6.03 after treatment), which is favorable for sulfide precipitation. After treatment, the soluble carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) and carbon-to-phosphorus (C/P) ratios in the wastewater increased significantly, which may alleviate the operational burden on downstream treatment plants. At a dosage of 0.045 % (w/v), the cost of sulfide control was 1.50 yuan/kg‑S. This study validates the practical potential of coated sustained‑release granules for sulfide control in sewers.
(Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Coated sustained‑release granule; Ferrous chloride; Sewer biofilm; Sulfide control
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Sulfides)
0 (Sewage)
0 (Ferrous Compounds)
S3Y25PHP1W (ferrous chloride)
0 (Delayed-Action Preparations)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260724 Date Completed: 20260909 Latest Revision: 20260909
Update Code: 20260909
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.126533
PMID: 42497559
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Control of sulfides in gravity sewer pipelines using coated sustained-release granules: Efficiency and mechanisms.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Huang+T%22">Huang T</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Zhang+J%22">Zhang J</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Liu+Y%22">Liu Y</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Li+L%22">Li L</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ren+Y%22">Ren Y</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Lu+J%22">Lu J</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Institute for Interdisciplinary and Innovate Research, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Zhang+Z%22">Zhang Z</searchLink>; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Institute for Interdisciplinary and Innovate Research, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resources, Environment, and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: zzq@xauat.edu.cn.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Sulfides%22">Sulfides*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Sulfides+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Waste+Disposal%2C+Fluid%22">Waste Disposal, Fluid*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Waste+Disposal%2C+Fluid+methods%22">methods</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Sewage%22">Sewage*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Ferrous+Compounds%22">Ferrous Compounds</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Ferrous+Compounds+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Hydrogen-Ion+Concentration%22">Hydrogen-Ion Concentration</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Biofilms%22">Biofilms</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Bioreactors%22">Bioreactors</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Delayed-Action+Preparations%22">Delayed-Action Preparations</searchLink>
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  Data: To address the challenges in sewer systems where continuous wastewater flow renders conventional iron salt dosing ineffective for long-term control, and where iron salts cause a sharp pH decline and structural weakening of pipelines, this study developed a coated sustained-release ferrous chloride granule (PMDI‑Fe<superscript>2+</superscript>). Under long‑term operation of laboratory‑scale reactors, the results showed that at a PMDI‑Fe<superscript>2+</superscript> dosage of 0.045 % (w/v), the half‑maximal recovery time (RT<subscript>50</subscript>) of the sulfide production rate was 9 days; at a flow velocity of 0.6 m/s, iron ions were sustainably released for 45 hours. The granules control sulfide through a dual biological and chemical mechanism: on the one hand, they elevate the oxidation‑reduction potential and zeta potential of the wastewater, disrupt biofilm structure, and reduce both the diversity of sulfur‑metabolizing microorganisms and the expression of key genes; on the other hand, they directly remove sulfide via chemical precipitation. The sustained‑release characteristic of PMDI‑Fe<superscript>2+</superscript> avoids a sharp pH drop (the pH decreased from 6.29 to 6.03 after treatment), which is favorable for sulfide precipitation. After treatment, the soluble carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) and carbon-to-phosphorus (C/P) ratios in the wastewater increased significantly, which may alleviate the operational burden on downstream treatment plants. At a dosage of 0.045 % (w/v), the cost of sulfide control was 1.50 yuan/kg‑S. This study validates the practical potential of coated sustained‑release granules for sulfide control in sewers.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Competing Interests
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Coated sustained‑release granule; Ferrous chloride; Sewer biofilm; Sulfide control
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        Text: English
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