Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) Hydrogen Sulfide Production

Describes the SRB metabolic pathway driving microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Sulfate is the electron acceptor in the absence of oxygen, and the hydrogen sulfide byproduct destabilizes passive iron films and reacts with the metal surface, producing the characteristic black deposits and sulfide odor.

$$\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4^{2-}+{\text{organic carbon (e}}^{-}\text{ donor)}\stackrel{\text{SRB, anaerobic}}{\to }{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}+\mathrm{HC}{\mathrm{O}}_3^{-}/\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2$$

Variables

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
$SO{4}^2-$	Sulfate, the electron acceptor used by SRB anaerobically	mg/L
H2S	Hydrogen sulfide, corrosive metabolic byproduct	mg/L
e-	Electrons transferred from an organic donor to sulfate	mol

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Part of The Blueprint of Water