State of the art on modeling of biodegradation of concrete sewer in presence of hydrogen sulfide

Author(s): Thierry Chaussadent, Mathieu Peyre Lavigne and Anais Grandclerc
Paper category: Conference
Book Title: International RILEM Conference on Microorganisms-Cementitious Materials Interactions
Editors: Virginie Wiktor, Henk Jonkers, Alexandra Bertron
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-160-5
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 37-47
Total Pages: 11
Language: English

Abstract: The modeling of sewer system biodegradation focuses independently on H2S generation (especially to manage its lowering), or on its impact on cementitious materials in the nonimmerged parts of the sewers. The state of the art presented in this paper is devoted to this second aspect, and is analyzed according to the well accepted three steps of the overall mechanism:
- Abiotic interactions of H2S with cementitious materials
- Biofilm formation and biological oxidation of H2S to sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
- Damage of the cementitious materials in contact with the generated acid

Significant progress has been done on the modeling of these three steps. Some models aim at solving simultaneously transport and biochemistry/chemistry reactions both in biofilm and concrete by a global coupled approach.

This state of the art allows also defining some knowledge needs. In particular, some improvements should be done to better define the modeling of biofilm activity depending on the nature of the materials. Another issue concerns the few data on modeling of special cement such as calcium aluminate cements. These future investigations on modeling are of prime interest for the prediction of service life of cementitious materials in sewers but also for the definition of new strategies to develop relevant accelerated tests and well performing material design.

Online publication: 2016
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00