Autotrophic denitrification using elemental sulfur. [Thiobacillus denitrificans]

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1977 · J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6383239

Batchelor, B; Lawrence, A W

Autotrophic denitrification processes using reduced sulfur compounds are alternatives to heterotrophic denitrification processes using organic carbon compounds. The feasibility of an autotrophic process using elemental sulfur in a slurry reactor system was evaluated in a series of continuous culture experiments using enrichment cultures of Thiobacillus denitrificans. The effects of solids retention time, sulfur feed rate, and temperature on reaction kinetics and stoichiometry were studied. Essentially complete nitrate removal (>99.5 percent) was observed using a synthetic feed containing 30 mg/l NO/sub 3/-N. Reaction stoichiometry was nearly constant over the range of experimental conditions. Solids separation characteristics of the sulfur-biomass slurry were measured in flocculent and zone settling tests. Relative costs for autotrophic and heterotrophic processes are closely related to the behavior of the sulfur and methanol markets.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 6383239
• Journal Information: J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States) Vol. 50; ISSN JWPFA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
CELL CULTURES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COST
DENITRIFICATION
ELEMENTS
FUEL DISPERSION REACTORS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
KINETICS
MICROORGANISMS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
REACTORS
SLURRY REACTORS
STOICHIOMETRY
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS