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Ostermeyer P, Van Landuyt J, Bonin L, Folens K, Williamson A, Hennebel T, Rabaey K. High rate production of concentrated sulfides from metal bearing wastewater in an expanded bed hydrogenotrophic sulfate reducing bioreactor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 11:100173. [PMID: 36158753 PMCID: PMC9488047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Metallurgical wastewaters contain high concentrations of sulfate, up to 15 g L-1. Sulfate-reducing bioreactors are employed to treat these wastewaters, reducing sulfates to sulfides which subsequently co-precipitate metals. Sulfate loading and reduction rates are typically restricted by the total H2S concentration. Sulfide stripping, sulfide precipitation and dilution are the main strategies employed to minimize inhibition by H2S, but can be adversely compromised by suboptimal sulfate reduction, clogging and additional energy costs. Here, metallurgical wastewater was treated for over 250 days using two hydrogenotrophic granular activated carbon expanded bed bioreactors without additional removal of sulfides. H2S toxicity was minimized by operating at pH 8 ± 0.15, resulting in an average sulfate removal of 7.08 ± 0.08 g L-1, sulfide concentrations of 2.1 ± 0.2 g L-1 and peaks up to 2.3 ± 0.2 g L-1. A sulfate reduction rate of 20.6 ± 0.9 g L-1 d-1 was achieved, with maxima up to 27.2 g L-1 d-1, which is among the highest reported considering a literature review of 39 studies. The rates reported here are 6-8 times higher than those reported for other reactors without active sulfide removal and the only reported for expanded bed sulfate-reducing bioreactors using H2. By increasing the influent sulfate concentration and maintaining high sulfide concentrations, sulfate reducers were promoted while fermenters and methanogens were suppressed. Industrial wastewater containing 4.4 g L-1 sulfate, 0.036 g L-1 nitrate and various metals (As, Fe, Tl, Zn, Ni, Sb, Co and Cd) was successfully treated with all metal(loid)s, nitrates and sulfates removed below discharge limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Ostermeyer
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
- CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9000, Gent, Belgium1
www.capture-resources.be
| | - Josefien Van Landuyt
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Luiza Bonin
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
- CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9000, Gent, Belgium1
www.capture-resources.be
| | - Karel Folens
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Adam Williamson
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
- CENBG, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS-IN2P3/, 19 chemin du Solarium, CS10120, 33175, Gradignan, France
| | - Tom Hennebel
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
- CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9000, Gent, Belgium1
www.capture-resources.be - Umicore, Group Research & Development, Competence Area Recycling and Extraction Technologies, Watertorenstraat 33, B-2250, Olen, Belgium
| | - Korneel Rabaey
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
- CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9000, Gent, Belgium1
www.capture-resources.be
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Oliveira L, Rückel A, Nordgauer L, Schlumprecht P, Hutter E, Weuster-Botz D. Comparison of Syngas-Fermenting Clostridia in Stirred-Tank Bioreactors and the Effects of Varying Syngas Impurities. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040681. [PMID: 35456733 PMCID: PMC9032146 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, syngas fermentation has emerged as a promising means for the production of fuels and platform chemicals, with a variety of acetogens efficiently converting CO-rich gases to ethanol. However, the feasibility of syngas fermentation processes is related to the occurrence of syngas impurities such as NH3, H2S, and NOX. Therefore, the effects of defined additions of NH4+, H2S, and NO3− were studied in autotrophic batch processes with C. autoethanogenum, C. ljungdahlii, and C. ragsdalei while applying continuously gassed stirred-tank bioreactors. Any initial addition of ammonium and nitrate curbed the cell growth of the Clostridia being studied and reduced the final alcohol concentrations. C. ljungdahlii showed the highest tolerance to ammonium and nitrate, whereas C. ragsdalei was even positively influenced by the presence of 0.1 g L−1 H2S. Quantitative goals for the purification of syngas were identified for each of the acetogens studied in the used experimental setup. Syngas purification should in particular focus on the NOX impurities that caused the highest inhibiting effect and maintain the concentrations of NH3 and H2S within an acceptable range (e.g., NH3 < 4560 ppm and H2S < 108 ppm) in order to avoid inhibition through the accumulation of these impurities in the bioreactor.
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Oliveira L, Röhrenbach S, Holzmüller V, Weuster-Botz D. Continuous sulfide supply enhanced autotrophic production of alcohols with Clostridium ragsdalei. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2022; 9:15. [PMID: 38647823 PMCID: PMC10992549 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-022-00506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Autotrophic syngas fermentation with clostridia enables the conversion of CO, CO2, and H2 into organic acids and alcohols. The batch process performance of Clostridium ragsdalei was studied in fully controlled and continuously gassed (600 mbar CO, 200 mbar H2, 200 mbar CO2) stirred-tank bioreactors. The final ethanol concentration varied as function of the reaction conditions. Decreasing the pH from pH 6.0-5.5 at a temperature of 37 °C increased the ethanol concentration from 2.33 g L-1 to 3.95 g L-1, whereas lowering the temperature from 37 to 32 °C at constant pH 6.0 resulted in a final ethanol concentration of 5.34 g L-1 after 5 days of batch operation. The sulphur availability was monitored by measuring the cysteine concentration in the medium and the H2S fraction in the exhaust gas. It was found that most of the initially added sulphur was stripped out within the first day of the batch process (first half of the exponential growth phase). A continuous sodium sulfide feed allowed ethanol concentrations to increase more than threefold to 7.67 g L-1 and the alcohol-to-acetate ratio to increase 43-fold to 17.71 g g-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Oliveira
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Simon Röhrenbach
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Verena Holzmüller
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Dirk Weuster-Botz
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.
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Ha BN, Pham DM, Kasai T, Awata T, Katayama A. Effect of Humin and Chemical Factors on CO 2-Fixing Acetogenesis and Methanogenesis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052546. [PMID: 35270239 PMCID: PMC8909181 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Acetogenesis and methanogenesis have attracted attention as CO2-fixing reactions. Humin, a humic substance insoluble at any pH, has been found to assist CO2-fixing acetogenesis as the sole electron donor. Here, using two CO2-fixing consortia with acetogenic and methanogenic activities, the effect of various parameters on these activities was examined. One consortium utilized humin and hydrogen (H2) as electron donors for acetogenesis, either separately or simultaneously, but with a preference for the electron use from humin. The acetogenic activity was accelerated 14 times by FeS at 0.2 g/L as the optimal concentration, while being inhibited by MgSO4 at concentration above 0.02 g/L and by NaCl at concentrations higher than 6 g/L. Another consortium did not utilize humin but H2 as electron donor, suggesting that humin was not a universal electron donor for acetogenesis. For methanogenesis, both consortia did not utilize extracellular electrons from humin unless H2 was present. The methanogenesis was promoted by FeS at 0.2 g/L or higher concentrations, especially without humin, and with NaCl at 2 g/L or higher concentrations regardless of the presence of humin, while no significant effect was observed with MgSO4. Comparative sequence analysis of partial 16S rRNA genes suggested that minor groups were the humin-utilizing acetogens in the consortium dominated by Clostridia, while Methanobacterium was the methanogen utilizing humin with H2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biec Nhu Ha
- Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (B.N.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Duyen Minh Pham
- Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan;
| | - Takuya Kasai
- Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (B.N.H.); (T.K.)
- Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan;
| | - Takanori Awata
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka 535-8585, Japan;
| | - Arata Katayama
- Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (B.N.H.); (T.K.)
- Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-52-789-5856
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Ntagia E, Chatzigiannidou I, Carvajal-Arroyo JM, Arends JBA, Rabaey K. Continuous H 2/CO 2 fermentation for acetic acid production under transient and continuous sulfide inhibition. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 285:131536. [PMID: 34273695 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Waste gas fermentation powered by renewable H2 is reaching kiloton scale. The presence of sulfide, inherent to many waste gases, can cause inhibition, requiring additional gas treatment. In this work, acetogenesis and methanogenesis inhibition by sulfide were studied in a 10-L mixed-culture fermenter, supplied with CO2 and connected with a water electrolysis unit for electricity-powered H2 supply. Three cycles of inhibition (1.3 mM total dissolved sulfide (TDS)) and recovery were applied, then the fermenter was operated at 0.5 mM TDS for 35 days. During operation at 0.5 mM TDS the acetate production rate reached 7.1 ± 1.5 mmol C L-1 d-1. Furthermore, 43.7 ± 15.6% of the electrons, provided as H2, were distributed to acetate and 7.7 ± 4.1% to butyrate, the second most abundant fermentation product. Selectivity of sulfide as inhibitor was demonstrated by a 7 days lag-phase of methanogenesis recovery, compared to 48 h for acetogenesis and by the less than 1% electrons distribution to CH4, under 0.5 mM TDS. The microbial community was dominated by Eubacterium, Proteiniphilum and an unclassified member of the Eggerthellaceae family. The taxonomic diversity of the community decreased and conversely the phenotypic diversity increased, during operation. This work illustrated the scale-up potential of waste gas fermentations, by elucidating the effect of sulfide as a common gas impurity, and by demonstrating continuous, potentially renewable supply of electrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Ntagia
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; CAPTURE, www.capture-resources.be, Belgium
| | - Ioanna Chatzigiannidou
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jose M Carvajal-Arroyo
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jan B A Arends
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; CAPTURE, www.capture-resources.be, Belgium
| | - Korneel Rabaey
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; CAPTURE, www.capture-resources.be, Belgium.
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Pan X, Zhao L, Li C, Angelidaki I, Lv N, Ning J, Cai G, Zhu G. Deep insights into the network of acetate metabolism in anaerobic digestion: focusing on syntrophic acetate oxidation and homoacetogenesis. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 190:116774. [PMID: 33387947 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Acetate is a pivotal intermediate product during anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. Its generation and consumption network is quite complex, which almost covers the most steps in anaerobic digestion (AD) process. Besides acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis, syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO) replaced acetoclastic methanogenesis to release the inhibition of AD at some special conditions, and the importance of considering homoacetogenesis had also been proved when analysing anaerobic fermentations. Syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacteria (SAOB), with function of SAO, can survive under high temperature and ammonia/ volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations, while, homoacetogens, performed homoacetogenesis, are more active under acidic, alkaline and low temperature (10°C-20°C) conditions, This review summarized the roles of SAO and homoacetogenesis in AD process, which contains the biochemical reactions, metabolism pathways, physiological characteristics and energy conservation of functional bacteria. The specific roles of these two processes in the subprocess of AD (i.e., acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis) were also analyzed in detail. A two phases anaerobic digester is proposed for protein-rich waste(water) treatment by enhancing the functions of homoacetogens and SAOB compared to the traditional two-phases anaerobic digesters, in which the first phase is fermentation phase including acidogens and homoacetogens for acetate production, and second phase is a mixed culture coupling syntrophic fatty acids bacteria, SAOB and hydrogenotrophic methanogens for methane production. This review provides a new insight into the network on production and consumption of acetate in AD process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen361021, China
| | - Lixin Zhao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing100081, China
| | - Chunxing Li
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Irini Angelidaki
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Nan Lv
- Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen361021, China
| | - Jing Ning
- Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen361021, China
| | - Guanjing Cai
- Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen361021, China
| | - Gefu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen361021, China.
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