title: Application of bacteria involved in the biological sulfur cycle for paper mill effluent purification.
abstract: In anaerobic wastewater treatment, the occurrence of biological sulfate reduction results in the formation of unwanted hydrogen sulfide, which is odorous, corrosive and toxic. In this paper, the role and application of bacteria in anaerobic and aerobic sulfur transformations are described and exemplified for the treatment of a paper mill wastewater. The sulfate containing wastewater first passes an anaerobic UASB reactor for bulk COD removal which is accompanied by the formation of biogas and hydrogen sulfide. In an aeration pond, the residual CODorganic and the formed dissolved hydrogen sulfide are removed. The biogas, consisting of CH4 (80-90 vol.%), CO2 (10-20 vol.%) and H2S (0.8-1.2 vol.%), is desulfurised prior to its combustion in a power generator thereby using a new biological process for H2S removal. This process will be described in more detail in this paper. Biomass from the anaerobic bioreactor has a compact granular structure and contains a diverse microbial community. Therefore, other anaerobic bioreactors throughout the world are inoculated with biomass from this UASB reactor. The sludge was also successfully used in investigation on sulfate reduction with carbon monoxide as the electron donor and the conversion of methanethiol. This shows the biotechnological potential of this complex reactor biomass.
authors.affiliation: Sub-department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. albert.janssen@wur.nl
authors.forename: Albert J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Piet N L
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Lens
authors.forename: Alfons J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stams
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Plugge
authors.forename: Dimitri Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Sorokin
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muyzer
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dijkman
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Zessen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luimes
authors.forename: Cees J N
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buisman
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010209:Paper; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D016999:Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013455:Sulfur; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide