Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
11:23
Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples
Published on: December 22, 2014
Microbial communities associated with wet flue gas desulfurization systems
Bryan P Brown1, Shannon R Brown, John M Senko
1Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron OH, USA.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Microbial communities in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems adapt to extreme conditions. Thermophilic bacteria in FGD scale deposits may contribute to steel structure corrosion.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Industrial biotechnology
- Corrosion science
Background:
- Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems remove sulfur oxides (SOx) from coal combustion emissions.
- Wet FGD systems create extreme environments with high temperatures and dissolved solids.
- Microbial roles in FGD performance and operation are largely unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate microbial communities in distinct process points of coal-fired power plant FGD systems.
- To understand microbial adaptation to FGD physicochemical conditions.
- To investigate potential microbial contributions to FGD system corrosion.
Main Methods:
- Employed culture-dependent and -independent approaches for microbial analysis.
- Collected samples from various FGD system locations, including absorber units and makeup water.
- Analyzed bacterial 16S rRNA genes from scale deposits.
Main Results:
- Halothermophilic/tolerant bacteria were more abundant in high-TDS, high-temperature absorber units.
- Microbial communities in absorber scale deposits were dominated by thermophilic bacteria.
- Distinct microbial communities were observed across different FGD process points.
Conclusions:
- Unique microbial communities develop in FGD systems, influenced by physicochemical gradients.
- Thermophilic microbial communities in scale deposits may contribute to steel corrosion in FGD systems.
- Further research is needed to elucidate microbial impacts on FGD system integrity and efficiency.
More Related Videos
15:19Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
07:56A Set of In Situ Informed Simulated Medium Formats for Culturing Environmentally Acquired Anaerobic Microorganisms
Published on: January 12, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:25Microbial Mats
Microbial communities forming biofilms and mats represent complex, spatially structured ecosystems where metabolic processes are stratified according to light, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. Biofilms are initial colonization stages, only a few millimeters thick, while mature microbial mats can reach centimeter-scale thickness and display intricate vertical organization. Their structural and functional heterogeneity allows microorganisms to occupy distinct ecological niches within a few...
01:29Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
01:24Microbial Corrosion
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
01:26Microbes and Methanogenesis
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
01:29Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur is a vital element in Earth's biogeochemical systems. It transitions through various inorganic states, including sulfate (SO₄²⁻), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and sulfide (S²⁻). Abiotic and biological mechanisms across oxic and anoxic environments intricately mediate these transformations. Sulfate, the most oxidized form of sulfur, is predominantly stored in rocks, marine sediments, and oceanic waters, acting as a long-term reservoir in the global sulfur cycle.In oxic environments,...
01:19Acid Mine Drainage
Mining activities that disturb sulfide-rich rocks, particularly those containing pyrite (FeS₂), initiate a cascade of geochemical and microbiological processes with serious environmental implications. When exposed to air and water, pyrite undergoes oxidation, releasing sulfate, ultimately forming sulfuric acid and mobilizing heavy metals into surrounding water systems. This phenomenon, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), results in low pH waters laden with toxic elements that threaten aquatic...