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Sulfide-oxidizing bacteria establishment in an innovative microaerobic reactor with an internal silicone membrane for sulfur recovery from wastewater

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Abstract

A novel bioreactor, employing a silicone membrane for microaeration, was studied for partial sulfide oxidation to elemental sulfur. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using an internal silicone membrane reactor (ISMR) to treat dissolved sulfide and to characterize its microbial community. The ISMR is an effective system to eliminate sulfide produced in anaerobic reactors. Sulfide removal efficiencies reached 96 % in a combined anaerobic/microaerobic reactor and significant sulfate production did not occur. The oxygen transfer was strongly influenced by air pressure and flow. Pyrosequencing analysis indicated various sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) affiliated to the species Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Sulfuricurvum kujiense and Pseudomonas stutzeri attached to the membrane and also indicated similarity between the biomass deposited on the membrane wall and the biomass drawn from the material support, supported the establishment of SOB in an anaerobic sludge under microaerobic conditions. Furthermore, these results showed that the reactor configuration can develop SOB under microaerobic conditions and can improve and reestablish the sulfide conversion to elemental sulfur.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP—Project Number 2009/15984-0 and 2011/22904-3), and the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica de Chile for their financial support and national doctoral scholarship. David Jeison would like to thank for support provided by CRHIAM Centre  (CONICYT/FONDAP/15130015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile

    F. Valdés & D. Jeison

  2. Biological Processes Laboratory, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Environmental Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Engenharia Ambiental - Bloco 4-F, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100 - Santa Angelina, 13.563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    P. R. Camiloti, T. P. Delforno & M. Zaiat

  3. Science and Technology Institute, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Rodovia José Aurélio Vilela, 11999, Poços de Caldas, MG, Brazil

    R. P. Rodriguez

  4. Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José, 2055, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    J. Carrillo-Reyes

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  1. F. Valdés
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Correspondence to P. R. Camiloti.

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Valdés, F., Camiloti, P.R., Rodriguez, R.P. et al. Sulfide-oxidizing bacteria establishment in an innovative microaerobic reactor with an internal silicone membrane for sulfur recovery from wastewater. Biodegradation 27, 119–130 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-016-9760-y

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