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Title: Conversion of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur by Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum in a CSTR with a sulfur-settling separator

Journal Article · · Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02941824· OSTI ID:7061526
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (United States)

Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum may be used for the bioconversion of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur or sulfate. Sulfur is the preferred product because of problems in the disposal of sulfate. A CSTR with a sulfur-settling separator has been used to preferentially produce and recover elemental sulfur. The simple nutritional requirements of the bacterium and differences in densities and average cell and sulfur particle sizes make a CSTR with a sulfur-settling separator attractive. A bench-scale study has been carried out to determine the optimum process conditions to maximize H[sub 2]S conversion, cell growth, elemental sulfur production, and to minimize sulfate production. The liquid effluent typically contained about 425-550 mg/L elemental sulfur. The sulfate concentration was maintained at levels below 100 mg/L. It was possible to remove up to 57 [mu]mol min[sup [minus]1] L[sup [minus]1] of H[sub 2]S from the gas stream. An experiment over a period of 293 h showed stable performance. 10 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

DOE Contract Number:
FG21-90MC27225
OSTI ID:
7061526
Journal Information:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology; (United States), Vol. 45-46; ISSN 0273-2289
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English