Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide is generated through sulfate reduction under anaerobic condition in enclosed coastal seas. It is highly toxic, depletes oxygen and generates blue tide. To evaluate the sulfide reduction effect of steelmaking slag, we carried out field experiments in Fukuyama inner harbor, where the people there have suffered from odor caused by gasses including hydrogen sulfide generated from the sediments. We placed the steelmaking slag on the sediments, and monitored the water quality of interstitial water in the sediments and the overlying water of the sediments as well. Hydrogen sulfide gas was also collected and measured.
The results showed that dissolved sulfide concentrations in interstitial water in the control plots ranged from 100 to 350 mgS/L, on the other hand, those in the steelmaking slag construction area were suppressed, being below 5 mgS/L. The reduction effect of dissolved sulfide by steelmaking slag has lasted for about two years. It was supposed that Fe ions eluted from steelmaking slag may have reacted with sulfide. Species number and individual numbers of macro benthos increased in the experimental area.
The results imply that capping the deteriorated sediments with steelmaking slag can effectively improve the water and sediment quality of coastal areas.
