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Gupta S, de Rink R, Klok JBM, Muyzer G, Plugge CM. Process conditions affect microbial diversity and activity in a haloalkaline biodesulfurization system. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0186423. [PMID: 38078763 PMCID: PMC10807427 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01864-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Biodesulfurization (BD) systems that treat sour gas employ mixtures of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to convert sulfide to elemental sulfur. In the past years, these systems have seen major technical innovations that have led to changes in microbial community composition. Different studies have identified and discussed the microbial communities in both traditional and improved systems. However, these studies do not identify metabolically active community members and merely focus on members' presence/absence. Therefore, their results cannot confirm the activity and role of certain bacteria in the BD system. To investigate the active community members, we determined the microbial communities of six different runs of a pilot-scale BD system. 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing was performed using both DNA and RNA. A comparison of the DNA- and RNA-based sequencing results identified the active microbes in the BD system. Statistical analyses indicated that not all the existing microbes were actively involved in the system and that microbial communities continuously evolved during the operation. At the end of the run, strains affiliated with Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii and Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus were confirmed as the most active key bacteria in the BD system. This study determined that microbial communities were shaped predominantly by the combination of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and sulfide concentration in the anoxic reactor and, to a lesser extent, by other operational parameters.IMPORTANCEHaloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are integral to biodesulfurization (BD) systems and are responsible for converting sulfide to sulfur. To understand the cause of conversions occurring in the BD systems, knowing which bacteria are present and active in the systems is essential. So far, only a few studies have investigated the BD system's microbial composition, but none have identified the active microbial community. Here, we reveal the metabolically active community, their succession, and their influence on product formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyash Gupta
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rieks de Rink
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Paqell B.V., Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes B. M. Klok
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Muyzer
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline M. Plugge
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Johnston KKY, van Lankveld M, de Rink R, Roman P, Klok JBM, Mol AR, Keesman KJ, Buisman CJN. Polysulfide Concentration and Chain Length in the Biological Desulfurization Process: Effect of Biomass Concentration and the Sulfide Loading Rate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13530-13540. [PMID: 37639370 PMCID: PMC10501124 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can be achieved using the sustainable biological desulfurization process, where H2S is converted to elemental sulfur using sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB). A dual-bioreactor process was recently developed where an anaerobic (sulfidic) bioreactor was used between the absorber column and micro-oxic bioreactor. In the absorber column and sulfidic bioreactor, polysulfides (Sx2-) are formed due to the chemical equilibrium between H2S and sulfur (S8). Sx2- is thought to be the intermediate for SOB to produce sulfur via H2S oxidation. In this study, we quantify Sx2-, determine their chain-length distribution under high H2S loading rates, and elucidate the relationship between biomass and the observed biological removal of sulfides under anaerobic conditions. A linear relationship was observed between Sx2- concentration and H2S loading rates at a constant biomass concentration. Increasing biomass concentrations resulted in a lower measured Sx2- concentration at similar H2S loading rates in the sulfidic bioreactor. Sx2- of chain length 6 (S62-) showed a substantial decrease at higher biomass concentrations. Identifying Sx2- concentrations and their chain lengths as a function of biomass concentration and the sulfide loading rate is key in understanding and controlling sulfide uptake by the SOB. This knowledge will contribute to a better understanding of how to reach and maintain a high selectivity for S8 formation in the dual-reactor biological desulfurization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kestral
A. K. Y. Johnston
- Environmental
Technology, Wageningen University &
Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700
AA Wageningen, The
Netherlands
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Mark van Lankveld
- Environmental
Technology, Wageningen University &
Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700
AA Wageningen, The
Netherlands
- Paqell
B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rieks de Rink
- Environmental
Technology, Wageningen University &
Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700
AA Wageningen, The
Netherlands
- Paqell
B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pawel Roman
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes B. M. Klok
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Annemerel R. Mol
- Environmental
Technology, Wageningen University &
Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700
AA Wageningen, The
Netherlands
| | - Karel J. Keesman
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
- Mathematical
and Statistical Methods − Biometris, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Cees J. N. Buisman
- Environmental
Technology, Wageningen University &
Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700
AA Wageningen, The
Netherlands
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
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Elzinga M, Zamudio J, van Bovenkaarsmaker S, Pol TVD, Klok J, Heijne AT. A simple method for routine measurement of organosulfur compounds in complex liquid and gaseous matrices. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1677:463276. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Schmitz RA, Mohammadi SS, van Erven T, Berben T, Jetten MSM, Pol A, Op den Camp HJM. Methanethiol Consumption and Hydrogen Sulfide Production by the Thermoacidophilic Methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:857442. [PMID: 35422776 PMCID: PMC9003020 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.857442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanotrophs aerobically oxidize methane to carbon dioxide to make a living and are known to degrade various other short chain carbon compounds as well. Volatile organic sulfur compounds such as methanethiol (CH3SH) are important intermediates in the sulfur cycle. Although volatile organic sulfur compounds co-occur with methane in various environments, little is known about how these compounds affect methanotrophy. The enzyme methanethiol oxidase catalyzing the oxidation of methanethiol has been known for decades, but only recently the mtoX gene encoding this enzyme was identified in a methylotrophic bacterium. The presence of a homologous gene in verrucomicrobial methanotrophs prompted us to examine how methanotrophs cope with methanethiol. Here, we show that the verrucomicrobial methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV consumes methanethiol and produces H2S, which is concurrently oxidized. Consumption of methanethiol is required since methanethiol inhibits methane oxidation. Cells incubated with ∼15 μM methanethiol from the start clearly showed inhibition of growth. After depletion of methanethiol, growth resumed within 1 day. Genes encoding a putative methanethiol oxidase were found in a variety of methanotrophs. Therefore, we hypothesize that methanethiol degradation is a widespread detoxification mechanism in methanotrophs in a range of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob A Schmitz
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sepehr S Mohammadi
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Timo van Erven
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tom Berben
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Arjan Pol
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Huub J M Op den Camp
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Mol AR, van Langeveld LJ, van der Weijden RD, Klok JBM, Buisman CJN. Effect of sulfide on morphology and particle size of biologically produced elemental sulfur from industrial desulfurization reactors. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127696. [PMID: 34823957 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of polysulfide formation on properties of biologically produced elemental sulfur (S8) crystals, which are produced during biological desulfurization (BD) of gas. The recent addition of an anoxic-sulfidic reactor (AnSuR) to the BD process resulted in agglomerated particles with better settleability for S8 separation. In the AnSuR, polysulfides are formed by the reaction of bisulfide (HS-) with S8 and are subsequently oxidized to S8 in a gas-lift reactor. Therefore, sulfur particles from the BD are shaped (i.e. morphology and particle size) both by formation and dissolution. We assessed the reaction of HS- with S8 particles in anoxic, abiotic experiments in a batch reactor using two S8 samples from industrial BD reactors. Under these conditions, the sulfur particle surface became coarser and more porous, and in addition the smallest particles disappeared. Agglomerates initially fell apart but were reformed at a later stage. Moreover, we found different observed polysulfide formation rates for each S8 sample, which was related to the initial morphology and size. Our findings show that particle properties can be controlled abiotically and that settleability of S8 is increased by increasing both the HS--S8 ratio and retention time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemerel R Mol
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Paqell B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Lourens J van Langeveld
- Paqell B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Renata D van der Weijden
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O: Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
| | - Johannes B M Klok
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Paqell B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O: Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
| | - Cees J N Buisman
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O: Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
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Gupta S, Plugge CM, Klok JBM, Muyzer G. Comparative analysis of microbial communities from different full-scale haloalkaline biodesulfurization systems. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:1759-1776. [PMID: 35147744 PMCID: PMC8882115 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-11771-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Abstract In biodesulfurization (BD) at haloalkaline and dO2-limited conditions, sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) effectively convert sulfide into elemental sulfur that can be used in agriculture as a fertilizer and fungicide. Here we show which bacteria are present in this biotechnological process. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of biomass from ten reactors sampled in 2018 indicated the presence of 444 bacterial Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs). A core microbiome represented by 30 ASVs was found in all ten reactors, with Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus as the most dominant species. The majority of these ASVs are phylogenetically related to bacteria previously identified in haloalkaline BD processes and in natural haloalkaline ecosystems. The source and composition of the feed gas had a great impact on the microbial community composition followed by alkalinity, sulfate, and thiosulfate concentrations. The halophilic SOB of the genus Guyparkeria (formerly known as Halothiobacillus) and heterotrophic SOB of the genus Halomonas were identified as potential indicator organisms of sulfate and thiosulfate accumulation in the BD process. Key points • Biodesulfurization (BD) reactors share a core microbiome • The source and composition of the feed gas affects the microbial composition in the BD reactors • Guyparkeria and Halomonas indicate high concentrations of sulfate and thiosulfate in the BD process Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-022-11771-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyash Gupta
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.,Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline M Plugge
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes B M Klok
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.,Paqell B.V, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard Muyzer
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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