Benzene removal by a novel modification of enhanced anaerobic biostimulation.

A novel modification of enhanced anaerobic bioremediation techniques was developed by using non-activated persulfate to accelerate the organic phosphorus breakdown and then stimulate benzene biodegradation by nitrate and sulfate reduction. Benzene concentrations in groundwater where nitrate, triethyl phosphate and persulfate were successfully injected were reduced at removal efficiencies greater than 77% to the levels below the applicable guideline. Soil benzene was removed effectively by the modification of the enhanced anaerobic bioremediation with removal efficiencies ranging between 75.9% and 92.8%. Geochemical analytical results indicated that persulfate effectively breaks down triethyl phosphate into orthophosphate, thereby promoting nitrate and sulfate utilization. Microbial analyses (quantitative polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S ribosomal RNA) demonstrated that benzene was primarily biodegraded by nitrate reduction while sulfate reduction played an important role in benzene removal at some portions of the study site. Enrichment in the heavier carbon isotope ¹³C of residual benzene with the increased removal efficiency provided direct evidence for benzene biodegradation. Nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen isotope analyses indicated that both nitrate reduction and sulfate reduction were occurring as bioremediation mechanisms.

Simultaneous biodesulphurization and denitrification using an oil reservoir microbial culture: Effects of sulphide loading rate and sulphide to nitrate loading ratio.

Biooxidation of sulphide under denitrifying conditions is a key process in control of souring in oil reservoirs and in treatment of gas and liquids contaminated with sulphide and nitrate. In this work, biooxidation of sulphide was studied using a representative culture originated from an oil reservoir. Effects of sulphide concentration, sulphide to nitrate molar ratio, and loading rates of sulphide and nitrate on their removal rates and composition of the end products were investigated. In the batch system sulphide removal rate passed through a maximum as sulphide concentration was increased from 2.1 to 16.3mM, with the highest rate (2.06mMh(-1)) observed with 10.7mM sulphide. Nitrate removal was coupled to sulphide oxidation and the highest removal rate was 1.05mMh(-1). In the continuous bioreactors fed with 10 and 5, 15 and 7.5, and 20 and 10mM sulphide and nitrate, cell wash-out occurred as dilution rate was increased above 0.15, 0.13 and 0.08h(-1), respectively. Prior to cell wash-out linear increases in sulphide and nitrate removal rates were observed as loading rate was increased. The highest sulphide and nitrate removal rates of 2.0 and 0.92mMh(-1) were obtained in the bioreactor fed with 15mM sulphide and 7.5mM nitrate at loading rates of 2.1 and 0.93mMh(-1), respectively. Short residence times and high sulphide to nitrate ratios promoted the formation of sulphur, a desired end product for ex situ treatment of contaminated streams. Combination of long residence times and low sulphide to nitrate ratios, which favours formation of sulphate, is the suitable strategy for in situ removal of H(2)S from oil reservoirs.

Evaluation of autotrophic and heterotrophic processes in biofilm reactors used for removal of sulphide, nitrate and COD.

Microbial cultures originated from an oil reservoir were used in three biofilm reactors and effects of sulphide and nitrate loading rates and molar loading ratio on the removal of sulphide, nitrate and acetate, and composition of end products were investigated. Application of biofilms improved sulphide and nitrate removal rates significantly when compared with freely suspended cells. Maximum sulphide and nitrate removal rates under autotrophic conditions were 30.0 and 24.4 mM h(-1), respectively (residence time: 0.5h). Oxidation of acetate occurred only at nitrate to sulphide molar loading ratios around 0.7 or higher when nitrate was present at levels higher than that required for oxidation of sulphide to sulphur. Conversion of sulphide to sulphate increased from 0% to 66% as nitrate to sulphide molar loading ratio was increased from 0.34 to 3.98. The highest nitrate and acetate removal rates in the bioreactor operated under heterotrophic conditions were 183.2 and 88.0 mM h(-1), respectively (residence time: 0.8h).