Abstract

SAEZ-NAVARRETE, CÉSAR et al. HYDROGEN KINETICS LIMITATION OF AN AUTOTROPHIC SULPHATE REDUCTION REACTOR. Dyna rev.fac.nac.minas [online]. 2012, vol.79, n.172, pp.126-132. ISSN 0012-7353.

Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are microorganisms that can be used as removal agents in polluted water sources. The use of inorganic substrates in SRB systems could reduce the cost and simplify operation. However, the use of H₂ as an energetic substrate and the production of H₂S as a metabolic product could produce kinetic limitations. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which the kinetics of a sulphate reduction bioreactor was limited by its gas transfer capacity. Reactor kinetics were monitored by total pressure kinetics without sulphate limitation. It was concluded that the bioreactor design should be based on transfer properties. The uptake rate of H₂ reached a maximum of 10^-4 M/min, equivalent to a sulphate reduction rate of 3.4 g·L^-1•d^-1. The hydrogen mass transfer rate required a k_La of 1.48 min^-1 at 1.2·10⁹ cells/L in order to avoid limitation by H₂ bio-availability (1.23·10^-9 L·min^-1•cell^-1), which is a relevant value for scaling-up purposes.

Keywords : Sulphate reducing bacteria; hydrogen; mass transfer; autotrophic.

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