Biological removal of sulphate from industrial effluents using producer gas as energy source

Abstract

A biological sulphate removal process, utilizing a novel energy source, producer gas, has been evaluated using a packed‐bed anaerobic reactor. The H₂S‐gas resulting from the sulphate ‐reduction was stripped off in the anaerobic reactor and oxidized to elemental sulphur, using an Fe³⁺ solution in a separate stage. Both the hydrogen and carbon monoxide components of the producer gas, were shown to be utilized during sulphate reduction. It was shown that acid water can be neutralized by the alkalinity produced in the process.