Reduction of chromate by fixed films of sulfate-reducing bacteria using hydrogen as an electron source

The ability of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to reduce chromate, Cr(VI), was evaluated using fixed-film growth systems and H2 as the electron source. A main objective of the experiment was to distinguish between direct enzymatic reduction and indirect reduction by hydrogen sulfide, in order to subsequently verify and control the synergy of these two mechanisms. In batch experiments with the sulfate-reducing consortium CH10 selected from a mining site, 50 mg l(-1) Cr(VI) was reduced in 15 min in the presence of 500 mg l(-1) hydrogen sulfide compared to 16 mg l(-1) reduced in 1 h without hydrogen sulfide. Fixed films of a CH10 population and Desulfomicrobium norvegicum were fed-batch grown in a column bioreactor. After development of the biofilm, hydrogen sulfide was removed and the column was fed continuously with a 13-mg l(-1) Cr(VI) solution. Specific Cr(VI) reduction rates on pozzolana were close to 90 mg Cr(VI) h(-1) per gram of protein. Exposure to Cr(VI) had a negative effect on the subsequent ability of CH10 to reduce sulfate, but the inhibited bacteria remained viable.