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Hydrogen sulfide removal from air by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in a trickle bed reactor

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Abstract

A strain of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans immobilized in polyurethane foam was utilized for H2S removal in a bench-scale trickle-bed reactor, testing the limits of acidity and SO4 2− accumulation. The use of this acidophilic strain resulted in remarkable stability in the performance of the system. The reactor maintained a >98–99 % H2S removal efficiency for c of up to 66 ppmv and empty bed residence time ≤12–15 s. Removal of >98 % H2S was achieved under steady-state conditions, over the pH range of 0.44–7.30. Despite the accumulation of acidity and SO4 2− (up to 97 g/L), the system operated without inhibition.

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Abbreviations

c in :

inlet H2S concentration, g S/m3

c out :

outlet H2S concentration, g S/m3

EC:

elimination capacity, g S m−3 h−1

EBRT:

empty-bed residence time, min and/or s

L:

load, g S m−3 h−1

ppmv:

parts per million by volume

PUF:

polyurethane foam

Q :

air flow rate, m3/h

R:

removal efficiency, %

V b :

bed volume, m3

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Food Technology and Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510, Cádiz, Spain

    M. Ramirez, J. M. Gómez & D. Cantero

  2. Department of Fermentation Chemistry and Bioengineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Páca & M. Halecký

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA

    E. I. Kozliak

  4. Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic

    M. Sobotka

Authors
  1. M. Ramirez
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  2. J. M. Gómez
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  3. D. Cantero
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  4. J. Páca
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  5. M. Halecký
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  6. E. I. Kozliak
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  7. M. Sobotka
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Correspondence to J. Páca.

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Ramirez, M., Gómez, J.M., Cantero, D. et al. Hydrogen sulfide removal from air by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in a trickle bed reactor. Folia Microbiol 54, 409–414 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0057-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0057-y

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