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Biotic factor does not limit operational pH in packed-bed bioreactor for ferrous iron biooxidation

  • Fermentation, Cell Culture and Bioengineering
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

Ferrous ion biooxidation is a process with many promising industrial applications: mainly regeneration of ferric ion as an oxidizing reagent in bioleaching processes and depuration of acid mine drainage. The flooded packed-bed bioreactor (FPB) is the design that leads to the highest biooxidation rate. In this bioreactor, biomass is immobilized in a biofilm that consists of an inorganic matrix, formed by precipitated ferric compounds, in the pores of which cells are attached. This biofilm covers the surface of particles (siliceous stone) that form the bed. The chemical stability of this inorganic matrix defines the widest possible pH range in FPBs. At pH below 1, ferric matrix is dissolved and cells are washed out. At pH higher than 2, ferric ion precipitates massively, greatly hindering mass transfer to cells. Thus, among other parameters, pH is recognised as a key factor for operational control in FPBs. This paper aims to explain the effect of pH on FPB operation, with an emphasis on microbial population behaviour. FPBs seeded with mixed inocula were assayed in the pH range from 2.3 to 0.8 and the microbial population was characterised. The microbial consortium in the bioreactor is modified by pH; at pH above 1.3 Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is the dominant microorganism, whereas at pH below 1.3 Leptospirillum ferrooxidans dominates. Inoculum can be adapted to acidity during continuous operation by progressively decreasing the pH of the inlet solution. Thus, in the pH range from 2.3 to 1, the biotic factor does not compromise the bioreactor performance.

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Abbreviations

FPB:

Flooded packed-bed bioreactor

IPTG:

Isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside

X-GAL:

5-Bromo-4-chloro-indolyl-β-d-galactopyranoside

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Acknowledgments

E. Villalobo is supported by grant BFU2009-10393 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and FEDER funds. We are grateful to Teresa Toronjo and Charles Nisbet for help with the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Profesor García González. Edificio Química, 41012, Seville, Spain

    Alfonso Mazuelos, José María Moreno & Francisco Carranza

  2. Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Profesor García González. Edificio Biología, 41012, Seville, Spain

    Carmen Palomino, Antonio Torres & Eduardo Villalobo

Authors
  1. Alfonso Mazuelos
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  2. José María Moreno
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  3. Francisco Carranza
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  4. Carmen Palomino
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  5. Antonio Torres
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  6. Eduardo Villalobo
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Correspondence to Alfonso Mazuelos.

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Mazuelos, A., Moreno, J.M., Carranza, F. et al. Biotic factor does not limit operational pH in packed-bed bioreactor for ferrous iron biooxidation. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 39, 1851–1858 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-012-1187-9

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