title: Biological oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in mineral media using a biofilm airlift suspension reactor.
abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) removal in mineral media using Thiobacillus thioparus TK-1 in a biofilm airlift suspension reactor (BAS) was investigated to evaluate the relationship between biofilm formation and changes in inlet loading rates. Aqueous sodium sulfide was fed as the substrate into the continuous BAS-reactor. The reactor was operated at a constant temperature of 30 degrees C and a pH of 7, the optimal temperature and pH for biomass growth. The startup of the reactor was performed with basalt carrier material. Optimal treatment performance was obtained at a loading rate of 4.8 mol S(2-) m(-3) h(-1) at a conversion efficiency as high as 100%. The main product of H(2)S oxidation in the BAS-reactor was sulfate because of high oxygen concentrations in the airlift reactor. The maximum sulfide oxidation rate was 6.7 mol S(2-) m(-3) h(-1) at a hydraulic residence time of 3.3 h in the mineral medium. The data showed that the BAS-reactor with this microorganism can be used for sulfide removal from industrial effluent.
authors.affiliation: Karaj Production and Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: G M Mojarrad
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Moghanloo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fatehifar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saedy
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aghaeifar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abbasnezhad
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008903:Minerals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008903:Minerals; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide