Simultaneous biological removal of sulfur, nitrogen and carbon using EGSB reactor
Journal
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Journal Volume
78
Journal Issue
6
Pages
1057-1063
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
High-rate biological conversion of sulfide and nitrate in synthetic wastewater to, respectively, elemental sulfur (S0) and nitrogen-containing gas (such as N2) was achieved in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor. A novel strategy was adopted to first cultivate mature granules using anaerobic sludge as seed sludge in sulfate-laden medium. The cultivated granules were then incubated in sulfide-laden medium to acclimate autotrophic denitrifiers. The incubated granules converted sulfide, nitrate, and acetate simultaneously in the same EGSB reactor to S0, N-containing gases and CO2 at loading rates of 3.0 kg S m -3 d-1, 1.45 kg N m-3 d-1, and 2.77 kg Ac m-1 d-1, respectively, and was not inhibited by sulfide concentrations up to 800 mg l-1. Effects of the C/N ratio on granule performance were identified. The granules cultivated in the sulfide-laden medium have Pseudomonas spp. and Azoarcus sp. presenting the heterotrophs and autotrophs that co-work in the high-rate EGSB-SDD (simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification) reactor. ? 2008 Springer-Verlag.
Subjects
Denitrification
Desulfurization
EGSB
Granules
Type
journal article