Sulfate reduction in a hydrogen fed bioreactor operated at haloalkaline conditions. (1st January 2015) - Sousa, João A.B.
Abstract: Biological sulfate reduction is used as a biotechnological process to treat sulfate rich streams. However, application of biological sulfate reduction at high pH and high salinity using H2 was not thoroughly investigated before. In this work the sulfate reduction activity, biomass growth, microbial community and biomass aggregation were investigated in a H2 -fed gas lift bioreactor at haloalkaline conditions. The process was characterized by low sulfate reduction volumetric rates due to slow growth and lack of biomass aggregation. Apparently, the extreme conditions and absence of organic compounds prevented the formation of stable aggregates. The microbial community analysis revealed a low abundance of known haloalkaliphilic sulfate reducers and presence of a Tindallia sp. The identified archaea were related to Methanobacterium alcaliphilum and Methanocalculus sp. The biomass did not attach to metal sulfides, calcite and magnesite crystals. However, biofilm formation on the glass bioreactor walls showed that attachment to glass occurs. Highlights: Stable operation of a sulfate reducing bioreactor at haloalkaline conditions. At haloalkaline conditions, biomass granules or flocks are not formed. Biomass attachment to the bioreactor glass walls was observed. No attachment was observed to iron sulfide, calcite and magnesite. Dominant bacterial population was closely related to Tindallia texcoconensis.