Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Use of Seaweed and Sugarcane Bagasse for the Biological Treatment of Metal-contaminated Waters Under Sulfate-reducing Conditions

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

When wetlands reach maximum treatment capacity to remove heavy metals, removal can still take place through precipitation as sulfide because of the biological reduction of sulfate. To achieve this goal, anaerobic conditions must be attained, a sulfate source must exist, and an adequate substrate for sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is also required. In the present work, two ligneous-cellulosic materials, a brown seaweed and sugarcane bagasse, have been selected as substrates for SRB growth. Experiments were simultaneously conducted in continuous operation in two columns (0.57 L each), one containing the ligneous-cellulosic material plus inoculum and another containing only the ligneous-cellulosic material. In this work, the removal of cadmium and zinc was studied because of their presence in effluents from mining/metallurgy operations. Results obtained indicated that the inoculated reactor was able to treat the effluent more efficiently than the noninoculated reactor considering the time course of the tests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lorion, R. (2001). Constructed wetlands: Passive systems for wastewater treatment. Available at: http://clu-in.org.

  2. Sobolewski, A. (1996). Ecological Engineering, 6, 259–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hammack, R. W., Edenborn, H. M., & Dvorak, D. H. (1994). Water Research, 28, 2321–2329.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tutle, J. H., Dugan, P. R., & Randles, C. I. (1969). Applied Microbiology, 17, 297–302.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Béchard, G., Yamazaki, H., Gould, W. D., & Bédard, P. (1994). Journal of Environmental Quality, 23, 111–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chang, I. S., Shin, P. K., & Kim, B. H. (2000). Water Research, 34, 1269–1277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dvorak, D. H., Hedin, R. S., Edenborn, H. M., & Mcintire, P. E. (1992). Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 40, 609–616.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. American Public Health Association (1998). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20nd ed.). Washington: APHA.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Postgate, J. R. (1984). The Sulphate-reducing Bacteria (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gonçalves, M. M. M. (2001). D.Sc. thesis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

  11. Gomes, N. C. M., Hagler, L. C. S. M., & Savvaidis, I. (1998). Revista de Microbiologia, 29, 85–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) for financial support to conduct this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Química, Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Química, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524—PHLC—sala 427, Rio de Janeiro, 20559-900, Brazil

    Márcia Monteiro Machado Gonçalves, Luiz Antonio de Oliveira Mello & Antonio Carlos Augusto da Costa

Authors
  1. Márcia Monteiro Machado Gonçalves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luiz Antonio de Oliveira Mello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonio Carlos Augusto da Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Carlos Augusto da Costa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gonçalves, M.M.M., de Oliveira Mello, L.A. & da Costa, A.C.A. The Use of Seaweed and Sugarcane Bagasse for the Biological Treatment of Metal-contaminated Waters Under Sulfate-reducing Conditions. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 147, 97–105 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-007-8091-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-007-8091-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation