Skip to main content
Log in

Simultaneous sulfide and nitrite removal from industrial wastewaters under denitrifying conditions

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bio-oxidation of sulfide under denitrifying conditions is a key process in the treatment of gas and liquids that are contaminated with sulfide and nitrite. A lab-scale continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CFSTR) was operated with nitrite as the electron acceptor for the evaluation of the effects of loading rates, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and substrate concentrations on the performance of the autotrophic denitrification process. The influent sulfide concentration was maintained at 0.16 kg/m3 and the HRT was decreased from 8.4 to 2 h and for the entire study period, the sulfide removal efficiency was above 80% for the loading rates that ranged from 0.47 to 2.16 kg S−2/m3day. However, lower influent loading of NO2 -N that correspond to the stoichiometric ratios was used and the nitrite removal efficiency was close to 100%. The stoichiometry of sulfide oxidation was calculated by assuming the different end-products based on thermodynamic approach. We compared the calculated values with experimental yield values.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Janssen, A. J. H., H. Dijkman, and G. Janssen (2000) Novel biological processes for the removal of H2S and SO2 from gas streams. pp. 265–280. In: P. N. L. Lens and L. Hulshoff Pol (eds.) Environmental technologies to treat sulfur pollution: Principles and engineering. IWA Publisher, London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beristain-Cardoso, R., R. Sierra-Alvarez, P. Rowlette, E. R. Flores, J. Gomez, and J. A. Field (2007) Sulphide oxidation under chemolithoautotrophic denitrifying conditions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 95: 1148–1157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Yavuz, B., M. Türker, and G. Ö. Engin (2007) Autotrophic removal of sulphide from industrial wastewaters using oxygen and nitrate as electron acceptors. Environ. Eng. Sci. 24: 457–470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Can-Dogan, E., M. Türker, L. Dagasan, and A. Arslan (2010) Sulphide removal from industrial wastewaters by autotrophic denitrification using nitrate as an electron acceptor. Wat. Sci. Technol. 62: 2286–2293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Perez R., A. Gali, J. Dosta, and J. Mata-Alvarez (2007) Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) using sulphides for autotrophic denitrification in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to treat reject water. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 46: 6646–6649.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Li, W., Q. -L. Zhao, and H. Liu (2009) Sulphide removal by simultaneous autotrophic and heterotrophic desulfurization-denitrification process. J. Hazard. Mater. 162: 848–853.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Moon, H. S., K. H. Ahn, S. Lee, K. Nam, and J. Y. Kim (2004) Use of autotrophic sulfur-oxidizers to remove nitrate from bank filtrate in a permeable reactive barrier system. Environ. Pollut. 129: 499–507.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mahmood, Q., P. Zheng, J. Cai, D. Wu, B. Hu, and J. Li (2007) Anoxic sulphide biooxidation using nitrite as electron acceptor. J. Hazard. Mater. 147: 249–256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sierra-Alvarez, R., R. Beristain-Cardosa, M. Salazar, J. Gomez, E. Razo-Flores, and J. A. Field (2007) Chemolithotrophic denitrification with elementel sulfur for groundwater treatment. Wat. Res. 41: 1253–1262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Campos, J. L., S. Carvalho, R. Portela, A. Mosquera-Corral, and R. Mendez (2008) Kinetics of denitrification using sulfur compounds: Effects of S/N ratio, endogenous and exogenous compounds. Biores. Technol. 99: 1293–1299.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jing, C., Z. Ping, and Q. Mahmood (2008) Effect of sulfide to nitrate ratios on the simultaneous anaerobic sulphide and nitrate removal. Biores. Technol. 99: 5520–5527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jing, C., Z. Ping, and Q. Mahmood (2010) Influence of various nitrogenous electron acceptors on the anaerobic sulfide oxidation. Biores. Technol. 101: 2931–2937.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Manconi, I., P. Carucci Lens, and S. Rossetti (2006) Simultaneous biological removal of sulphide and nitrate by autotrophic denitrification in an activated sludge system. Wat. Sci. Technol. 53: 91–99.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Beristain-Cardoso, R., A. -C. Texier, R. Sierra-Alvarez, J. A. Field, E. Razo-Flores, and J. Gomez (2008) Simultaneous sulphide and acetate oxidation under denitrifying conditions using an inverse fludized bed reactor. J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. 83: 1197–1203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mahmood, Q., P. Zheng, Y. Hayat, E. Islam, D. Wu, and J. Ren- Cun (2008) Effect of pH on anoxic sulphide oxidizing reactor performance. Biores. Technol. 99: 3291–3296.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Başpınar, A. B., M. Turker, A. Hocalar, and I. Öztürk (2011) Biogas desulphurization at technical scale by lithotrophic denitrification: Integration of sulphide and nitrogen removal. Proc. Biochem. 46: 916–922.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Türker, M., A. B. Başpınar, and A. Hocalar (2012) Monitoring and control of biogas desulphurization using oxidation reduction potential under denitrifiying conditions. J. Chem. Tech. Biotech. 187: 682–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. APHA, AWWA (2005) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewaters. 21th ed., American Public Health Association Publication, Washington, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Buisman, C. J. N., P. Ijspeert, A. Hof, A. J. H. Janssen, R. Hagen, and G. Lettýnga (1991) Kinetic parameters of mixed culture oxidizing sulfide and sulfur with oxygen. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 38: 813–820.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nishimura, S. and M. Yoda (1997) Removal of hydrogen sulphide from an anaerobic biogas using a bio-scrubber. Wat. Sci. Technol. 36: 349–356.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Barbosa, V. L., J. E. Buergess, K. Dark, and R. M. Stuetz (2002) Activated sludge biotreatment of sulfurous waste emissions. Environ. Sci. Biotechnol. 1: 345–362.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kleerebezem, R. and R. Mendez (2002) Autotrophic denitrification for combined hydrogen sulphide removal from biogas and post-denitrification. Wat. Sci. Technol. 45: 349–356.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Vaiopoulou, E., P. Melidis, and A. Aivasidis (2005) Sulphide removal in wastewater from petrochemical industries by autotrophic denitrification. Wat. Res. 39: 4101–4109.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Mahmood, Q., P. Zheng, J. Cai, D. Wu, B. Hu, E. Isiam, and M. R. Azim (2007) Comparision of anoxic sulfide biooxidation using nitrate/nitrite as electron acceptor. Environ. Prog. 26: 169–177.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rittman, B. E. and P. L. Mc Carty (2001) Environmental biotechnology: Principles and applications. pp. 132–145. McGraw Hill Higher Education, America.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Tchobanoglous, G., F. L. Burton, and H. D. Stensel (2003) Wastewater Engineering, Treatment and Reuse. 4th ed. pp. 571–579. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. Mc Graw-Hill Companies, NY, USA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esra Can Doğan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Doğan, E.C., Türker, M., Dağaşan, L. et al. Simultaneous sulfide and nitrite removal from industrial wastewaters under denitrifying conditions. Biotechnol Bioproc E 17, 661–668 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-011-0677-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-011-0677-3

Keywords

Navigation