Anaerobic methanethiol degradation in upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactors at high salinity (> or =0.5 M Na(+)).
The feasibility of anaerobic methanethiol (MT) degradation at elevated sodium concentrations was investigated in a mesophilic (30 degrees C) lab-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor, inoculated with estuarine sediment originating from the Wadden Sea (The Netherlands). MT was almost completely degraded (>95%) to sulfide, methane and carbon dioxide at volumetric loading rates up to 37 mmol MT x L(-1) x day(-1), 0.5 M sodium (NaCl or NaHCO(3)) and between pH 7.3 and 8.4. Batch experiments revealed that inhibition of MT degradation started at sodium (both NaCl and NaHCO(3)) concentrations exceeding 0.8 M. Sulfide inhibited MT degradation already around 3 mM (pH 8.3).
van Leerdam
Robin C
RC
Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bomenweg 2, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. Robin.vanLeerdam@wur.nl
de Bok
Frank A M
FA
Lens
Piet N L
PN
Stams
Alfons J M
AJ
Janssen
Albert J H
AJ
D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C005231:methylmercaptan; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013455:Sulfur