New developments in reactor and process technology for sulfate reduction.
Sulfate reduction has been regarded in the past as an unwanted process in anaerobic treatment of sulfate-rich wastewaters. Research efforts were primarily focused on H2S toxicity, competition between sulfidogenic and methanogenic microorganisms and suppression of sulfidogenesis. More recently, the potential sulfidogenesis for treating a wide range of wastestreams contaminated with oxidized sulfurous compounds and/or heavy metals was also appreciated. Heavy metals can be removed by the formation and subsequent precipitation of poorly soluble metal sulfides. Basically two approaches can be distinguished in wastewater treatment: passive treatment using low-cost technologies and active treatment in newly developed bioreactors. Both strategies are discussed.
Pol
L W
LW
Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Lens
P N
PN
Weijma
J
J
Stams
A J
AJ
D019149:Bioreactors; D003363:Cost Control; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
D013431:Sulfates; D013455:Sulfur