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Biological Sulfate Reduction Using Molasses as a Carbon Source
Author(s) -
Annachhatre Ajit P.,
Suktrakoolvait Saovapak
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143001x138778
Subject(s) - sulfate , chemistry , chemical oxygen demand , sulfur , sulfate reducing bacteria , sulfide , environmental chemistry , carbon fibers , bioreactor , pulp and paper industry , wastewater , environmental engineering , environmental science , materials science , organic chemistry , composite number , engineering , composite material
The feasibility of using a laboratory‐scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket process for sulfate reduction with molasses as a carbon source was demonstrated. Competition between methane‐producing bacteria (MPB) and sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) was influenced by the chemical oxygen demand‐to‐sulfur (COD:S) ratio in the feed. Sulfate removal greater than 80% could be achieved at COD:S greater than 10 when MPB predominated. Activity of MPB and SRB was inhibited at a dissolved sulfide concentration of approximately 200mg/L. Competition between MPB and SRB was intense as the COD:S was reduced from 5 to 2. Further reduction in the COD:S to 0.7 led to the formation of sulfidogenic granules. The COD removal decreased to approximately 30% at a COD:S less than 2 because of accumulation of sulfurous precipitates and the nonbiodegradable portion of molasses in the sludge. Reduced gas production rates further imposed limitations on diffusion of the organic substrate into granules. Sulfidogenic process operation yielded sulfate removal as great as 70% at a COD:S of approximately 3.5.