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Process integration for biological sulfate reduction in a carbon monoxide fed packed bed reactor
Manoj Kumar1, Arindam Sinharoy1, Kannan Pakshirajan1
1Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
Journal of Environmental Management
|May 13, 2018
Summary
Immobilized anaerobic biomass effectively reduced sulfate using carbon monoxide (CO) as the sole carbon source. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) beads achieved high sulfate and CO removal, demonstrating a stable packed bed bioreactor system.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Bioreactor engineering
- Wastewater treatment
Background:
- Sulfate reduction is crucial for wastewater treatment.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) offers a potential carbon source for anaerobic processes.
- Immobilized biomass can enhance bioreactor efficiency and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sulfate reduction using immobilized anaerobic biomass with CO as the sole carbon source.
- To optimize bioreactor performance by examining hydraulic retention time (HRT), sulfate, and CO loading rates.
- To assess the impact of CO concentration on sulfate reduction efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized immobilized anaerobic bacteria in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) beads.
- Employed batch and continuous fed conditions in a 1L packed bed bioreactor.
- Investigated the effects of varying HRT, sulfate loading, and CO loading rates.
Main Results:
- Achieved 84% sulfate reduction and 98% CO utilization with PVA-immobilized biomass.
- Sulfate removal efficiencies of 94.42%, 89.75%, and 61.08% were observed at 48, 24, and 12h HRT, respectively.
- Initial CO concentration was the only significant factor affecting sulfate reduction, with high CO loading supporting stable performance.
Conclusions:
- Immobilized anaerobic biomass effectively reduces sulfate using CO in a packed bed bioreactor.
- PVA-immobilized biomass demonstrates high efficiency and stability for sulfate removal.
- The system shows promise for treating sulfate-rich wastewater with CO as a sustainable carbon source.
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