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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
15:19
Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
[Domestication study about desulfuration microorganism from oxidation ditch by low concentration SO2]
Bing Huang1, Zhe Shi, Yan-Yan Wang
1Faculty of Environmental Science & Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China. kmhuangbing@yahoo.com.cn
Huan Jing Ke Xue= Huanjing Kexue
|August 12, 2010
Summary
A novel desulfurization microorganism, similar to Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, efficiently removes sulfur dioxide (SO2) by converting it to sulfate. This bacterium, isolated from sewage, demonstrates high SO2 degradation rates and efficiencies in reactor systems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biotechnology
Context:
- Industrial processes often release significant amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major air pollutant.
- Conventional SO2 removal methods can be energy-intensive and generate secondary waste.
- Biological desulfurization offers a sustainable alternative for SO2 abatement.
Purpose:
- To isolate and characterize a highly efficient SO2-removing microorganism from a municipal sewage treatment plant.
- To investigate the optimal conditions for microbial desulfurization of SO2.
- To evaluate the performance of the isolated microorganism in a packed tower reactor.
Summary:
- A desulfurization microorganism, exhibiting characteristics of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, was successfully cultivated using inductive acclimatization with low-concentration SO2 gas.
- The microorganism utilizes SO2 (sulfite) as an energy source, converting it to sulfate with high efficiency.
- Optimized process conditions, including aeration, SO2 flux, and nutrient supply (N, P, K), are crucial for domestication and desulfurization.
- In a packed tower reactor, the bacteria achieved 98% SO2 removal efficiency for 5,500 mg/m3 and 95% for 15,000 mg/m3, with outlet concentrations below 100 mg/m3.
Impact:
- Provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly biological solution for industrial SO2 emission control.
- Demonstrates the potential of utilizing microorganisms from wastewater treatment for bioremediation applications.
- Contributes to reducing air pollution and mitigating the environmental impact of sulfur emissions.
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