Removal of Heavy Metals from Rainwater in Batch Reactors with Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB)

The main objective of this research was to investigate the biosorption capacity for biofilms of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) to remove heavy metals, such as Zn, Pb and Cd from rainwater using laboratory-scale reactors containing mixed support media. Evidence showed that biosorption had contributed to removal of heavy metals including Zn, Pb and Cd in presence of SRB and SRB were also found in the aqueous samples from reactors. However, the SRB and specific families (Desulfobacteriaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae) were found mainly in the biomass samples taken from all reactors at the end of the experiment. EDX-analysis of reactor solids at end of experiment showed that heavy metals Zn, Pb and Cd had also accumulated in these precipitates.

Authors:

• Abdulsalam I. Rafida

Keywords:

• Sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB)
• biosorption capacity.

References:

[1] Brierley, J. A., Brierley, C. L., and Goyak, G. M. (1986) AMTBIOCLAM:
A new wastewater treatment and metal recovery
technology. In fundamental and Applied Biohydrometallurgy.,
Lawrence, R. W., Branion, R. M., Ebner, H. G., Elsevier Amsterdam, pp
291-304.
[2] Charackis,W, G. and Marshall., C.K. (1989) Biofilms. John Eiley, New
york.
[3] Chen, B., Utgikar, P. V., Harmon, M. S., Tabak, H. H., Bishop, F. D.,
and Govind, R. (2000) Studies on biosorption of zinc (II) and copper on
Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. International Biodeterioration &
Biodegradation, v 46, pp 11-18.
[4] Cossich, S, E., Tavares, G, R, C., and Ravagnani, K, M, T. (2002)
Bisorption of chromium (III) by Sargassum sp Biomass. Electronic
journal of Biotechnology, v 5, No 2.
[5] Eccles, H., and Hunt., S. (1986) Immobilization of ions by biosorption.
Chichester, Ellis Horwood.
[6] Jianlong, W. (2002) Biosorption of copper (II) by chemically modified
biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Process Biochemistry, v 37, pp
847-850.
[7] Lazarova, V., and Manem., J. (1995) Biofilm characterization and
activity analysis in water and wastewater treatment. Water Research, v
29, n 10, pp 2227- 2245.
[8] Lovley, D.R., and Philips., J. E. (1992) Reduction of uranium by
Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Appl.Environ Microbiol, v 58, pp 850-
856.
[9] Rapporteure., M.W., Hanilton., W.A. Stahl., D. A. Handly., P. S.
Wanner., O. Holm., N. C. Ward., D. M. Kuenen., J. G. Wilderer., P. A.
Revsbech., N. P. Wimpenny., J. W. qnd Runio., M. A. (1989) Group
report spatial distribution of biotic and a biotic components in the
biofilm. In structure and function of biofilms (Edited by Characklis, W,
G and Wilderer, P, A.), pp 165-190, New York.
[10] Ritmann, B, E., and Manem., A. J. (1992) Development and experiment
evaluation of a steady state multispecies biofilm model. Biotechnol.
Bioeng, v 39, pp 914-922.
[11] Tchobanoglous,G., and Burton., L.F. (1991) Wastewater Engineering,
Treatment, Disposal and Reuse. McGraw-Hill, Inc, New York.
[12] Vargas, I., Macaskie, E. L, and Guibal, E. (2004) Biosorption of
palladium and platinum by sulphate- reducing bacteria. Journal of
Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, v 79, pp 49-56.
[13] Volesky, B. (1990) Biosorption of heavy metals. Boca, Fl, CRC, Press.
[14] Wanner, O., and Gujer. W. (1986) A multi species biofilm model.
Biotechnol Bioeng.,v 28, pp 314-328.
[15] Wanner, O., and Reichert, P. (1996) Mathematical modelling of mixed
population biofilms. Biotechnol, Bioeng, v 49, pp 172-184.
[16] Widdel, F. (1988) Microbiology and ecology of sulphate-and sulphurreducing
bacteria, in Biology of Anaerobic Microorganisms,
(A.J.B.Zehnder, ed), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
[17] Widdel, F., and Pfenning., N. (1992) The genus Desulfuromonas and
other gram- negative Sulphate Reducing eubacteria, in: a handbook on
the biology of bacteria: ecophysiology, isolation, identification,
applications, 2nd ed, Volume IV ( H. G. Truper, A., Balows, and H. G.
Schlegel, eds), Springer-Verlag, Heidelberidg, pp 3379-3389.