Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121731 |
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| Title (Primary) | Enhancing sulfate-rich wastewater treatment through polyvinyl alcohol -immobilized sulfidogenic granules: Optimization of reactor configuration and bioaugmentation strategies |
| Author | Castro, R.; Adrian, L.
; Gabriel, G.; Gabriel, D.; Gamisans, X.; Guimerà, X. |
| Source Titel | Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | MEB |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Page From | art. 121731 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T7 Bioeconomy |
| Keywords | Sulfate-containing wastewater; Sulfate reduction; PVA immobilization; Bioaugmentation; Glycerol oxidation; Anaerobic reactors |
| Abstract | Sulfate-rich wastewater can pose significant environmental challenges due to its potential to acidify water bodies and disrupt ecosystems. This study evaluates the efficacy of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-immobilized sulfidogenic granules for sulfate removal and H2S production in two continuous-flow reactor configurations, column reactor (CR) and continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Using pure glycerol as electron donor, the CR demonstrated superior performance, removing > 95 % sulfate at initial loading rates ≤ 1.75 Kg S-SO₄²⁻·m⁻³ ·d⁻¹ , with minimal biomass washout (1.94 g volatile suspended solids (VSS)∙L−1in CR vs. 7.8 g VSS∙L−1 in CSTR), setting a C/S ratio of 6.25 Kg O2∙Kg−1 SO42-. Parameter optimization minimized volatile fatty acids accumulation, with acetate constituting 92 % of total volatile fatty acids. After long-term operation (101 days), Desulfovibrio were enriched to 21.3 % of the total community whereas methanogens were almost fully removed (<0.03 %). After bioaugmentation with immobilized granules overgrown with sulfate-reducing and acetate-oxidizing bacteria (SRB-AO) acetate efflux was reduced by 54 %, highlighting the potential to control byproduct formation. The PVA granules achieved a sulfate removal rate of 0.19 Kg S-SO₄²⁻·m⁻³ ·d⁻¹ ·g VSS⁻¹ ·L, which was similar to that of conventional suspended-growth sulfate-reducing systems (e.g., CSTR or flocculent UASB reactors) with fivefold higher biomass concentrations, while reducing startup time to 10 days. Total sulfide rate (including H2S and HS-) obtained at these conditions was 0.93 Kg∙m−3∙d−1. This work pioneers the integration of artificial granulation and granule bioaugmentation for scalable, highly-efficient sulfate removal, offering treatment options for industrial wastewater. |
| Castro, R., Adrian, L., Gabriel, G., Gabriel, D., Gamisans, X., Guimerà, X. (2026): Enhancing sulfate-rich wastewater treatment through polyvinyl alcohol -immobilized sulfidogenic granules: Optimization of reactor configuration and bioaugmentation strategies J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 14 (2), art. 121731 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121731 |
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