Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Effect of reactive media composition and co-contaminants on sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification
Hee Sun Moon1, Sun Woo Chang, Kyoungphile Nam
1School of Civil, Urban & Geosystem Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
As a part of a study developing a biological reactive barrier system to treat nitrate-contaminated groundwater, the effects of reactive media composition and co-contaminants on sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic denitrification were investigated. The size of sulfur granules affected the denitrification rates; kinetic constants of 2.883, 2.949, and 0.677 mg-N(1/2)/L(1/2)/day were obtained when the granule sizes were below 2 mm, between 2 and 5 mm, and over 5 mm, respectively. When the volume ratios of sulfur to limestone were 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1, kinetic constants of 5.490, 3.903, 4.072, and 2.984 mg-N(1/2)/L(1/2)/day were obtained, respectively. The presence of TCE up to 20 mg/L didn't significantly affect nitrate removal efficiency. At the TCE concentration of 80 mg/L, however, nitrate removal was markedly inhibited. Also, Zn and Cu inhibited the denitrification activity at more than 0.5 mg/L of concentration whereas Cr (VI) did not significantly affect the nitrate removal efficiency at all levels tested.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Sulfur Assimilation
Bioremediation
Microbial Corrosion

