Biofilm formation kinetics and sulfur oxidation performance of Acidithiobacillus spp. cultivated in biofilter packing composed of KOH-modified biochar and FECO₃-impregnated CLC waste
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.27119Abstract
This article interrogates the sulfur-oxidation kinetics and spatial biofilm architecture of Acidithiobacillus spp. (DSM 12475, DSM 739) supported on KOH-activated biochar and FeCO₃-modified Cellular Light-weight Concrete (CLC) waste within a 1.0-m controlled biofilter. Pure cultures were anaerobically enriched for 96 h at 30 °C in nitrate-reducing medium, achieving ~10⁷ CFU mL⁻¹ before inoculation. The reactor was operated for 144 h at 30 °C, 45–60% moisture, 0.2–1.0 L min⁻¹ flow, Empty Bed Retention Time (EBRT) 15–60 s, and inlet concentrations of 100–2000 ppm H₂S. Microscopy revealed slower, but highly stable colonization kinetics compared to Pseudomonas spp. Biomass increased from 7.2×10⁵ to 3.1×10⁶ CFU/sample over 72–96 h, with uniform distribution across all six bed layers. Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) visualization confirmed maturation of cohesive biofilms under localized acidification driven by sulfate accumulation. The hierarchical porosity of biochar promoted greater cell loading, while FeCO₃-CLC enhanced catalytic oxidation of thiosulfate and sulfur intermediates, contributing to stable redox cycling. Steady-state operation yielded Removal Efficiencies (RE) of 85–92% and elimination capacities of 14–18 g H₂S m⁻³ h⁻¹ with minimal functional decline across the 144-h cycle. The facultative anaerobic metabolism of Acidithiobacillus spp. enabled sustained oxidation under oxygen-limited and mildly acidic microenvironments – operational regimes in which many conventional SOBs destabilize. Collectively, the results validate the presence of Acidithiobacillus spp. – engineered media systems as robust, acid-tolerant, and long-duration biocatalytic platforms suited for high-sulfur, variable-composition biogas purification.
Article in English.
Bioplėvelės formavimosi kinetika ir sieros oksidacijos efektyvumas kultivuojant Acidithiobacillus spp. biofiltro įkrovoje iš KOH modifikuotos bioanglies ir FECO₃ impregnuotų CLC atliekų
Santrauka
Šiame straipsnyje analizuojama Acidithiobacillus spp. (DSM 12475, DSM 739) sieros oksidacijos kinetika ir bioplėvelės erdvinė struktūra, susiformuojanti 1,0 m aukščio biofiltro įkrovoje. Bioplėvelė buvo formuojama ant KOH aktyvuotos bioanglies ir FeCO₃ modifikuoto akytojo lengvojo betono (CLC) atliekų. Prieš mikroorganizmų įterpimą į biofiltrą grynos bakterijų kultūros buvo anaerobiškai papildomos nitratus redukuojančioje terpėje 96 valandas 30 °C temperatūroje, kol pasiekė maždaug 10⁷ CFU mL⁻¹ oncentraciją. Paskui filtras buvo eksploatuojamas 144 valandas palaikant 30 °C temperatūrą, 45–60 % drėgmę ir 0,2–1,0 L min⁻¹ dujų srautą. Biodujų buvimo trukmė biofiltre (EBRT) svyravo nuo 15 iki 60 s, o įeinanti pradinė H₂S koncentracija – nuo 100 iki 2000 ppm. Mikrobiologiniai tyrimai parodė, kad Acidithiobacillus spp. kolonizacijos kinetika buvo lėtesnė nei Pseudomonas spp., tačiau pasižymėjo dideliu stabilumu. Per 72–96 val. biomasės kiekis padidėjo nuo 7,2 × 10⁵ iki 3,1 × 10⁶ CFU mėginyje, o mikroorganizmai tolygiai pasiskirstė visuose šešiuose biofiltro sluoksniuose. Tarpląstelinių polimerinių medžiagų (EPS) struktūros stebėjimas patvirtino vientisos bioplėvelės formavimąsi ir jos brendimą. Šis procesas vyko lokalioje rūgštėjančioje mikroaplinkoje, kuri susidarė dėl elementinės sieros kaupimosi. Daugialygė bioanglies porų struktūra sudarė tinkamas sąlygas gausesniam mikroorganizmų prisitvirtinimui ir jų biomasės kaupimuisi. Su FeCO₃ modifikuotos akytojo lengvojo betono (CLC) atliekos pagerino tiosulfato ir sieros tarpinių junginių katalizinę oksidaciją bei palaikė stabilų oksidacijos–redukcijos procesą. Veikiant pastovios būsenos režimu biofiltras užtikrino 85–92 % sieros vandenilio šalinimo efektyvumą (RE) ir 14–18 g H₂S m⁻³ h⁻¹ šalinimo pajėgumą, o per 144 val. trukmės valymo procesą nenustatyta reikšmingų sistemos veikimo sutrikimų. Fakultatyvinis anaerobinis Acidithiobacillus spp. metabolizmas leido palaikyti nuolatinę sieros oksidaciją net esant ribotam deguonies kiekiui ir šiek tiek rūgščiai mikroaplinkai. Tai sąlygos, kuriomis daugelis kitų sierą oksiduojančių bakterijų tampa nestabilios. Apibendrinant galima teigti, kad Acidithiobacillus spp. pagrindu sukurti inžineriniai biofiltro užpildai yra patikima, rūgštims atspari ir ilgalaikio veikimo biokatalizinė sistema, tinkama biodujoms valyti esant didelėms ir kintančioms sieros vandenilio koncentracijoms.
Reikšminiai žodžiai: vandenilio sulfido šalinimas, biofiltras, bioanglis, akytojo lengvojo betono (CLC) atliekos, mikrobiologinis sieros junginių skaidymas, biodujų valymas.
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hydrogen sulfide removal, biofilter, biochar, cellular concrete (CLC) waste, microbial desulfurization, biogas purificationHow to Cite
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