• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2014

In order to remove both nitrate and sulfate present in the concentrate of RO(reverse osmosis) process, a combined bio-regeneration and ion-exchange(IX) system was studied. For this purpose, both denitrifying bacteria(DNB) and sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB) were simultaneously cultivated in a bio-reactor under anaerobic conditions. When the IX column containing a nitrate-selective A520E resin was fully exhausted by nitrate and sulfate, the IX column was bio-regenerated by pumping the supernatant of the bio-reactor, which contains MLSS concentration of $125{\pm}25mg/L$, at the flowrate of 360 BV/hr. Even though the nitrate-selective A520E resin was used, the breakthrough curves of ionic species showed that sulfate was exhausted earlier than nitrate. The reason for this result is due to the fact that the concentration of sulfate in RO concentrate was 36 to 48 times higher than nitrate. The bio-reactor was successfully operated at a volumetric loading rate of 0.6 g $COD/l{\cdot}d$, nitrate-N loading rate of 0.13 g $NO_3{^-}-N/l{\cdot}d$, and sulfate loading rate of 0.08 g $SO_4{^{2-}}/l{\cdot}d$. The removal rate of SCOD, nitrate-N, sulfate was 90, 100, and 85%, respectively. When the virgin resin was fully exhausted and consecutively bio-regenerated for 2 days, 81% of nitrate and 93% of sulfate were reduced. When the virgin resin was repeatedly used up to 4 cycles of service and bio-regeneration, the ion-exchange capacity of bio-regenerated resin decreased to 95, 91, 88, and 81% of virgin resin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1005-1012
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• 2020

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been a serious environmental issue that threatens soil and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, an acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain S4, was isolated from the mud of an AMD storage pond in Vietnam via enrichment in anoxic mineral medium at pH 5. Comparative analyses of sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and dsrB gene involved in sulfate reduction revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Desulfovibrio, and is most closely related to Desulfovibrio oxamicus (with 99% homology in 16S rDNA sequence and 98% homology in dsrB gene sequence). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of dsrB gene showed that strain S4 represented one of the two most abundant groups developed in the enrichment culture. Notably, strain S4 was capable of reducing sulfate in low pH environments (from 2 and above), and resistance to extremely high concentration of heavy metals (Fe 3,000 mg/l, Zn 100 mg/l, Cu 100 mg/l). In a batch incubation experiment in synthetic AMD with pH 3.5, strain S4 showed strong effects in facilitating growth of a neutrophilic, metal sensitive Desulfovibrio sp. strain SR4H, which was not capable of growing alone in such an environment. Thus, it is postulated that under extreme conditions such as an AMD environment, acid- and metal-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-like strain S4 would facilitate the growth of other widely distributed SRB by starting to reduce sulfate at low pH, thus increasing pH and lowering the metal concentration in the environment. Owing to such unique physiological characteristics, strain S4 shows great potential for application in sustainable remediation of AMD.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is universally distributed in the sediment, especially in marine environment. SRB reduce sulfate as electron acceptor to hydrogen sulfide in anaerobic condition. Hydrogen sulfide is reducing agent enhancing the reduction of the organic and inorganic compounds. With SRB, therefore, the degradability of organic contaminants is expected to be enhanced. Ferrous iron reduced from the ferric iron which is mainly present in sediment also renders chlorinated organic compounds to be reduced state. The objectives of this study are: 1) to investigate the reduction of TCE by hydrogen sulfide generated by tht growth of SRB, 2) to estimate the reduction of TCE by ferrous iron generated due to oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, and 3) to illuminate the interaction between SRB and ferrous iron. Mixed bacteria was cultivated from the sludge of the sewage treatment plant. Increasing hydrogen sulfide and decreasing sulfate confirmed the existence of SRB in mixed culture. Although hydrogen sulfide lonely could reduce TCE, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide produced by SRB was not sufficient to reduce TCE directly. With hematite as ferric iron, hydrogen sulfide produced by SRB was consumed to reduce ferric ion to ferrous ion and ferrous iron produced by hydrogen sulfide oxidation decreased the concentration of TCE. Tests with seawater confirmed that the activity of SRB was dependent on the carbon source concentration.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.187-193
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• 2004

We have investigated the differences between the general corrosion and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of steels in terms of electrochemical behavior and surface phenomena. Corrosion potential of steels in the absence of SRB (sulfate-reducing bacteria) shifted to a low level and was maintained throughout the experimental period (40 days). The potential in the presence of SRB, however, shifted to a noble level after 20 days' incubation, indicating the growth of SRB biofilms on the test metal specimens and a formation of corrosion products. In addition, the color of medium inoculated with SRB changed from gray to black. The color change appeared to be caused by the formation of pyrites (FeS) as a corrosion product while no significant color change was observed in the medium without SRB inoculation. Moreover, corrosion rates of various steels tested for MIC were higher than those in the absence of SRB. This is probably because SRB were associated with the increasing corrosion rates through increasing cathodic reactions which caused reduction of sulfate to sulfide as well as formation of an oxygen concentration cell. The pitting corrosions were also observed in the SRB-inoculated medium.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.110-121
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• 2022

The effluents from industries processing vegetable oils are extremely rich in sulfates, often exceeding the maximum concentration allowed to release them to the environment. Biological sulfate reduction is a promising alternative for the removal of sulfates in this type of wastewater, which has other particularities such as an acidic pH. The ability to reduce sulfates has been widely described for a particular bacterial group (SRB: sulfate-reducing bacteria), although the reports describing its application for the treatment of sulfate-rich industrial wastewaters are scarce. In this work, we describe the use of a natural SRB-based consortium able to remove above 30% of sulfates in the wastewater from one of the largest edible oil industries in Peru. Metataxonomic analysis was used to analyse the interdependencies established between SRB and the native microbiota present in the wastewater samples, and the performance of the consortium was quantified for different sulfate concentrations in laboratory-scale reactors. Our results pave the way towards the use of this consortium as a low-cost, sustainable alternative for the treatment of larger volumes of wastewater coming from this type of industries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1809-1818
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• 2008

Biotechnological treatment of sulfate- and metal-ions-containing acidic wastewaters from mining and metallurgical activities utilizes sulfate-reducing bacteria to produce sulfide that can subsequently precipitate metal ions. Reducing sulfate at a low pH has several advantages above neutrophilic sulfate reduction. This study describes the effect of sulfide removal on the reactor performance and microbial community in a high-rate sulfidogenic gas-lift bioreactor fed with hydrogen at a controlled internal pH of 5. Under sulfide removal conditions, 99% of the sulfate was converted at a hydraulic retention time of 24 h, reaching a volumetric activity as high as 51 mmol sulfate/l/d. Under nonsulfide removal conditions, <25% of the sulfate was converted at a hydraulic retention time of 24 h reaching volumetric activities of <13 mmol sulfate/l/d. The absence of sulfide removal at a hydraulic retention time of 24 h resulted in an average $H_2S$ concentration of 18.2 mM (584 mg S/I). The incomplete sulfate removal was probably due to sulfide inhibition. Molecular phylogenetic analysis identified 11 separate 16S rRNA bands under sulfide stripping conditions, whereas under nonsulfide removal conditions only 4 separate 16S rRNA bands were found. This shows that a less diverse population was found in the presence of a high sulfide concentration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.90-93
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• 2003

Sampling of waters from each stage of treatment system, SAPS (Successive Alkalinity Producing System), and spring water near the Hanchang coal mine of Kangwon. Province were carried out periodically and analyzed to evaluate the source and possible path of groundwater contamination by acid mine drainage(AMD). Chemical and sulfur isotope compositions showed that spring water was affected by seepage from mine tailings, and seepage of stonewall, a part of treatment system, was affected by both seepage from mine tailings and mine adit drainage. Through the treatment system no appreciable decrease of sulfur content was identified. And almost similar sulfur isotope compositions of water from each stage of the treatment system may suggest incomplete or very poor sulfate reduction by sulfate reducing bacteria.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.559-562
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• 2003

The results and discussions of surveyed case site at constructed steel pile in potential acid sulfate soil were as follows. Topography at surveyed site was local alluvial valley and that site soils was classified as BanGog and YuGye series as detailed soil surveyed results in RDA and soil texture was Clay/Clay Loam. Soils pH was neutral, which was average 7.5 but much decreased to average 4.2 after $H_2O_2$ treatment. Organic matter and sulfate ions contents were very rich. The corrosion was severe at ground water fluctuation depth. Deposits colored black were attached to steel pile surface, which because of violent reaction in treatment HCI solution, were guessed as corrosion products (FeS) reduced by sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB). Consequently, main cause was thought microbiologically induced corrosion at this site where there is ground water fluctuation occurring oxidation and reduction reactions in turn and the soil is potential acid sulfate soil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.434-441
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• 2009

The effect of varying sulfate concentration on continuous fermentative hydrogen production was studied using enriched mixed microflora in continuously fed reactor. Glucose was used as a model substrate for carbohydrates, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) was maintained at 1, 0.5, 0.25 day, respectively. Sulfate concentration was 0${\sim}$20,000 mg/L and the operating pH was maintained at 5.5. The experimental results indicate that hydrogen production is not affected by high sulfate concentration and shorter HRT of 0.25 day enhance hydrogen production. At HRT 1, 0.5, 0.25 day, the hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield were 2.6, 4.6, 9.4 L/day, and 2.0, 1.8, 1.6 mol $H_2$/mol glucose, respectively. Residual sulfate content was 96${\sim}$98, 95${\sim}$97, and 94${\sim}$97% at HRT 1, 0.5, 0.25 day which show that no sulfate reduction occurred in the reactor during the experiments. Results of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) may indicate the presence of HPB (hydrogen producing bacteria) under all experimental conditions. However, SRB (sulfate reducing bacteria) were not found.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.413-426
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• 2009

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of indigenous bacteria on geochemical behavior of toxic heavy metals in contaminated paddy soil near an abandoned mine. The effects of sulfate amendment to stimulate microbial sulfate reduction on heavy metal behaviors were also investigated. Batch-type experiments were performed with lactate or glucose as a carbon source to activate indigenous bacteria in the soil under anaerobic condition for 100 days. Sulfate (250 mg/L) was artificially injected at 60 days after the onset of the experiments. In the case of glucose supply, solution pH increased from 4.8 to 7.6 while pH was maintained at 7~8 in the lactate solution. The initial low pH in the case of glucose supply likely resulted in the enhanced extraction of Fe and most heavy metals at the initial experimental period. Lactate supply exerted no significant difference on the amounts of dissolved Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu between microbial and abiotic control slurries; however, lower Zn, Pb and Ni and higher Cu concentrations were observed in the microbial slurries than in the controls when glucose supplied. Sulfate amendment led to dramatic decrease in dissolved Cr and maintenance of dissolved As, both of which had gradually increased over time till the sulfate injection. Black precipitates formed in solution after sulfate amendment, and violarite($Fe^{+2}{Ni^{+3}}_2S_4$) was found with XRD analysis in the microbial precipitates. Conceivably the mineral might be formed after Fe(III) reduction and microbial sulfate reduction with coprecipitation of heavy metal. The results suggested that heavy metals which can be readily extracted from contaminated paddy soils may be stabilized in soil formation by microbial sulfate reduction.