Membrane-aerated biofilm reactor for the removal of 1,2-dichloroethane by Pseudomonas sp. strain DCA1.

A membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MBR) with a biofilm of Pseudomonas sp. strain DCA1 was studied for the removal of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) from water. A hydrophobic membrane was used to create a barrier between the liquid and the gas phase. Inoculation of the MBR with cells of strain DCA1 grown in a continuous culture resulted in the formation of a stable and active DCA-degrading biofilm on the membrane. The maximum removal rate of the MBR was reached at a DCA concentration of approximately 80 micro M. Simulation of the DCA fluxes into the biofilm showed that the MBR performance at lower concentrations was limited by the DCA diffusion rate rather than by kinetic constraints of strain DCA1. Aerobic biodegradation of DCA present in anoxic water could be achieved by supplying oxygen solely from the gas phase to the biofilm grown on the liquid side of the membrane. As a result, direct aeration of the water, which leads to undesired coagulation of iron oxides, could be avoided.

Thermophilic sulphate and sulphite reduction in lab-scale gas-lift reactors using H(2) and CO(2) as energy and carbon source.

Feasibility of thermophilic (55 degrees C) sulphate and sulphite reduction with H(2) and CO(2) gas-mixtures was studied in gas-lift reactors, which contained pumice particles as carrier material. Particular attention was paid to biomass retention and the competition between hydrogenotrophic sulphate-reducers and other hydrogenotrophic thermophiles. A model medium with defined mineral nutrients was used.The results of the experiments clearly demonstrate that sulphate conversion rates up to 7.5 g SO(4) (2-)/L per day can be achieved. With sulphite, a reduction rate of 3.7 g S/L per day was obtained, which equals a sulphate conversion rate of 11.1 g SO(4) (2-)/L per day. Under the applied conditions, a strong competition for hydrogen between hydrogenotrophic sulphate-reducers, tentatively designated as Desulfotomaculum sp., and hydrogenotrophic methanogens was observed. The outcome of the competition could not be predicted. Growth of the mixed culture was totally inhibited at an H(2)S concentration of 250 mg/L. Poor attachment of sulphate-reducing bacteria was observed in all experiments. The biomass concentration did not exceed 1.2 g/L, despite the presence of 50 g/L of pumice. The reason for this phenomenon remains to be understood. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 55: 807-814, 1997.

Biological sulfate reduction using synthesis gas as energy and carbon source.

Biological sulfate reduction was studied in laboratory-scale gas-lift reactors. Synthesis gas (gas mixtures of H(2)/CO/CO(2)) was used as energy and carbon source. The required biomass retention was obtained by aggregation and immobilization on pumice particles. Special attention was paid to the effect of CO addition on the sulfate conversion rate, aggregation, and aggregate composition.Addition of 5% CO negatively affected the overall sulfate conversion rate; i.e., it dropped from 12-14 to 6-8 g SO(2-) (4)/L day. However, a further increase of CO to 10 and 20% did not further deteriorate the process. With external biomass recycling the sulfate conversion rate could be improved to 10 g SO(2-) (4)/L day. Therefore biomass retention clearly could be regarded as the rate-limiting step. Furthermore, CO affected the aggregate shape and diameter. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs showed that rough aggregates pregrown on H(2)/CO(2) changed into smooth aggregates upon addition of CO. Addition of CO also changed the aggregate Sauter mean diameter (d(32)) from 1.7 mm at 5% CO to 2.1 mm at 20% CO. After addition of CO, a layered biomass structure developed. Acetobacterium sp. were mainly located at the outside of the aggregates, whereas Desulfovibrio sp. were located inside the aggregates.

Biological sulphate reduction using gas-lift reactors fed with hydrogen and carbon dioxide as energy and carbon source.

Feasibility and engineering aspects of biological sulphate reduction in gas-lift reactors were studied. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were used as energy and carbon source. Attention was paid to biofilm formation, sulphide toxicity, sulphate conversion rate optimization, and gas-liquid mass transfer limitations. Sulphate-reducing bacteria formed stable biofilms on pumice particles. Biofilm formation was not observed when basalt particles were used. However, use of basalt particles led to the formation of granules of sulphate-reducing biomass. The sulphate-reducing bacteria, grown on pumice, easily adapted to free H(2)S concentrations up to 450 mg/L. Biofilm growth rate then equilibrated biomass loss rate. These high free H(2)S concentrations caused reversible inhibition rather than acute toxicity. When free H(2)S concentrations were kept below 450 mg/L, a maximum sulphate conversion rate of 30 g SO(4) (2-)/L x d could be achieved after only 10 days of operation. Gas-to-liquid hydrogen mass transfer capacity of the reactor determined the maximum sulphate conversion rate.