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Control of sulphide during anaerobic treatment of S-containing wastewaters by adding limited amounts of oxygen or nitrate

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Abstract

Sulphide generated during anaerobic treatment of S-containing wastewaters represents an environmental problem. Adding limited amounts of oxygen or nitrate (or nitrite) to biologically (or chemically) oxidise sulphide forms a simple process-level strategy to control this problem. This short review evaluates the feasibility and limitations of this strategy on the basis of the results of bioreactor studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (project CTM 2005-02967/TECNO) for financial support and P. Wheeler, AEA Technology Environment, A. Wellinger, Nova Energie, O. Jönsson, The Swedish Gas Centre and T. Al Seadi, University of Southern Denmark, for their help with the implementation in practice of micro-aerobic conditions in anaerobic bioreactors.

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  1. Dores G. Cirne

    Present address: Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, Paseo Prado de la Magdalena s/n, 47011, Valladolid, Spain

    Dores G. Cirne, Maria Fernandez-Polanco & Fernando Fernandez-Polanco

  2. IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    Frank P. van der Zee

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Cirne, D.G., van der Zee, F.P., Fernandez-Polanco, M. et al. Control of sulphide during anaerobic treatment of S-containing wastewaters by adding limited amounts of oxygen or nitrate. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 7, 93–105 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-008-9128-9

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