A method and apparatus for the anaerobic methane fermentation treatment of
a wastewater containing a sulfur compound. An oxidizing agent is added to
an organic wastewater to oxidize the sulfur compound contained therein to
molecular sulfur before the anaerobic treatment step. The wastewater is
then introduced into the anaerobic treatment step for the methane
fermentation treatment thereof. The amount of the oxidizing agent to be
added to the wastewater is controlled using as an indicator the
concentration of the residual oxidizing agent in the water flowing into
the anaerobic treatment step and/or the concentration of hydrogen sulfide
in a biogas generated. The oxidizing agent may be ozone, hydrogen
peroxide, sodium hypochlorite or a bromine based oxidizing agent. When
the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in a biogas generated in the
anaerobic treatment step is used as said indicator, the oxidizing agent
may be suitably added such that the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is
3% or less.