SULFIDE OXIDATION IN A BATCH FLUIDIZED BED BIOREACTOR USING IMMOBILIZED CELLS OF ISOLATED THIOBACILLUS SP. (IICT-SOB-DAIRY-201) AS BIOCATALYST

A study is conducted to test the biological conversion of sulfides using immobilized cells of Thiobacillus sp. in fluidized bed bioreactor. The Thiobacillus sp are isolated from aerobic sludge of distillery and dairy effluent treatment plant using standard methods of isolation and enrichment. Experiments were conducted in a batch fluidized bed bioreactor using calcium alginate immobilized cells of isolated Thiobacillus sp. The batch fluidized bed bioreactor is operated for 168 hours with an initial sulfide concentration of 150 mg/l, at the end of 168 hours 100% sulfide oxidation is achieved by the continuous supply of sterile air as oxidant. During the operational period, biomass concentration, pH, sulfate formation is recorded.