Electrochemically assisted microbial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in bioelectrochemical system
Naufila MOHAMED ASHIQ, Ashraf ALY HASSAN
Abstract. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a malodorous, toxic, and corrosive gas commonly encountered in anaerobic environments such as wastewater treatment systems and biogas streams. Sustainable and low-energy methods for its removal are needed to replace conventional chemical oxidation processes. This study investigates H₂S oxidation in a laboratory-scale, dual-chamber bioelectrochemical system (BES) operated under anaerobic conditions. The anode chamber, containing carbon felt electrodes enriched with a sulfide-oxidizing microbial community, was supplied with nutrient–phosphate buffer solution supplemented with sodium sulfide (Na₂S), corresponding to an initial HS⁻ concentration of ~100 mg L⁻¹. The cathode chamber contained phosphate buffer to ensure conductivity. Both chambers were purged with nitrogen gas prior to operation, and an external voltage of 0.8 V was applied. Sulfide concentrations were quantified using the methylene blue spectrophotometric method (Hach), while sulfate production was analyzed by ion chromatography. Additional monitoring included total organic carbon (TOC) and current density. The BES achieved ~99% sulfide removal within 20 days during the startup phase, when biofilm was still developing. After startup, sulfide removal accelerated, with ~99% removal achieved in only 11 days, accompanied by visible but minimal elemental sulfur deposition. Sulfate was identified as the predominant oxidation product, indicating a likely complete oxidation pathway under the applied potential. A peak current density of 2170 mA m⁻² was recorded at Na₂S addition, and small amounts of hydrogen gas were detected at the cathode, suggesting potential for integrated energy recovery in future optimization. These findings demonstrate that BES technology can effectively oxidize sulfide under anaerobic conditions, providing a sustainable and energy-efficient strategy for H₂S mitigation in wastewater and biogas treatment applications.
Keywords
Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation, Bioelectrochemical System, Sulfate Production, Sulfide Removal, Wastewater Treatment
Published online 6/20/2026, 9 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Naufila MOHAMED ASHIQ, Ashraf ALY HASSAN, Electrochemically assisted microbial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in bioelectrochemical system, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 384-392, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-52
The article was published as article 52 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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