title: Development of a simple model for anaerobic digestion based on preliminary measurements of the bacterial sulphur activity in wastewater stabilization ponds.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to develop a simple and practical model for anaerobic digestion, encompassing sulphate reduction and sulphur oxidation, in a waste stabilization pond. The basic microbiological phases of the model consisted of four processes, namely acidogenesis, methanogenesis, sulphate reduction and sulphur oxidation. It also incorporated multiple reaction stoichiometry and substrate utilization kinetics. The study also aimed to investigate the mutual interaction between sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and photosynthetic sulphur bacteria (PSB) in an anaerobic sludge consortia using batch reactors. The results revealed that for an initial concentration of sulphate ranging between 250 and 2800 mg x l(-1), SRB activity ranged between 20 and 190 mgSO4(2-)(reduced). The gVSS(-1) x d(-1) and PSB activity varied between 60 and 320 mgSO4(2-)(produced). gVSS(-1) x d(-1), and PSB activity was noted to be twice as high as that of SRB. PSB can, therefore, be used effectively in the fight against odors. The most important environmental factors affecting the sulphur cycle in the waste stabilization pond were likely to be the availability of sulphate and light for SRB and PSB, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Centre Universitaire de Recherche Multidisciplinaire en Environnement (CURME), Université du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi. harecasimir@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Casimir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harerimana
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences et Gestion de l 'Environnement, Unité 'Assainissement et Environnement', Université de Liège, Arlon, Belgium.
authors.forename: Chéma
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keffala
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences et Gestion de l 'Environnement, Unité 'Assainissement et Environnement', Université de Liège, Arlon, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jupsin
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences et Gestion de l 'Environnement, Unité 'Assainissement et Environnement', Université de Liège, Arlon, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vasel
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D058433:Photobioreactors; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D013431:Sulfates