WASTEWATER
By Rick LallishHydrogen sulfide is oxidized to sulfuric acid by what bacteria, common in pipe walls in collection systems and lift station wet wells?A. NocardiaB. ThiobacillusC. ThiothrixD. AutotrophicisAnswer: B. Hydrogen sulfide has a lifecycle that goes from liquid to gas to liquid in certain conditions. Sulfates present in wastewater are changed to sulfide by bacteria in waterline slime layers. The flow splash and turbulence caused the H2S gas to release. The gas is then oxidized by the Thiobacillus bacteria to corrosive sulfuric acid, which drips down the pipes and then changes back to sulfate in the wastewater stream. More information may be found in
