Column experiments for immobilization of sulfate reducing babteria

In view of the difficulty in treating the bioleaching solutions, the selective precipitation of metals using H₂S produced biologically by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) was put forward. In this paper, two anaerobic fixed bed bioreactors fabricated from Plexiglas was used to produce hydrogen sulfide by continuous operation, porcelain rings and synthetic sponge (polyurethane foam) were used as immobilization carrier for supporting the biofilm growth. The results showed that high removal rate of SO₄^2- were achieved with both porcelain rings and synthetic sponge as immobilization carrier for continuous treatment. And in view of the stability of process and the removal rate of SO₄^2-, synthetic sponge was better as the immobilized carrier in the experiments, the removal rate of SO₄^2- with it reached 92%, and the process was easily operated.