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Anaerobic sulphate-reducing microbial process using UASB reactor for heavy metals decontamination
A C de Lima1, M M Gonçalves, M Granato
1Escola de Química/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Tecnologia bloco E, Ilha do Fundão, Brasil.
Environmental Technology
|May 11, 2001
Summary
Sewage effectively supports sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) for sulphide production and nickel removal. This bioreactor process achieved 96% nickel removal, demonstrating potential for wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Wastewater treatment
Background:
- Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play a crucial role in biogeochemical sulfur cycling.
- Wastewater treatment often requires efficient methods for metal removal and sulfide production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sewage as an organic substrate for SRB growth.
- To acclimatize anaerobic sludge for sulfide production via sulfate reduction.
- To assess the potential for metal precipitation using this method.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a continuous bench-scale UASB bioreactor (13 L).
- Operated with hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 11 and 19 hours.
- Fed with liquid sewage supplemented with nickel and sodium sulfates.
Main Results:
- Successfully acclimatized anaerobic sludge for sulfide production.
- Observed a correlation between chemical oxygen demand (COD) and sulfate reduction by SRB.
- Achieved high nickel removal efficiency (96%) over 320 days.
- Maintained nickel removal by controlling organic load and supplementing carbon source when needed.
Conclusions:
- Sewage can serve as a viable organic substrate for SRB in metal precipitation processes.
- Effective nickel removal is achievable, but requires strict control of organic load.
- SRB were stable within the studied HRT range, though granular sludge did not form.