Reduction of produced elementary sulfur in denitrifying sulfide removal process
Journal
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Journal Volume
90
Journal Issue
3
Pages
1129-1136
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Denitrifying sulfide removal (DSR) processes simultaneously convert sulfide, nitrate, and chemical oxygen demand from industrial wastewater into elemental sulfur, dinitrogen gas, and carbon dioxide, respectively. The failure of a DSR process is signaled by high concentrations of sulfide in reactor effluent. Conventionally, DSR reactor failure is blamed for overcompetition for heterotroph to autotroph communities. This study indicates that the elementary sulfur produced by oxidizing sulfide that is a recoverable resource from sulfide-laden wastewaters can be reduced back to sulfide by sulfur-reducing Methanobacterium sp. The Methanobacterium sp. was stimulated with excess organic carbon (acetate) when nitrite was completely consumed by heterotrophic denitrifiers. Adjusting hydraulic retention time of a DSR reactor when nitrite is completely consumed provides an additional control variable for maximizing DSR performance. ? 2011 Springer-Verlag.
Subjects
Denitrifying sulfide removal
Elementary sulfur
Hydraulic retention time
Sulfate-reducing
Type
journal article