Analysis of the toxicity of Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn e Co metals in sulfidogenic reactors fed with different electrons donors.

• Grant number: 23/03148-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Denise Bevilaqua
• Grantee: Guilherme Salvador Peres Neto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/16400-0 - Co-substrate addition for in-flow acclimation of sulfidogenic bioreactor fed with brewery spent grain as slow release electron donor, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Using sulfate reducing bacteria for treatment and metal recovering from acid mine drainage (AMD) have been taking place for decades. However, the formation of small and non sedimentable particles, which are hard to recover, hinder this application in larger scale. The use of lignocellulosic material have been seen as a promissor strategy to overcome this problem and help with metal recovering in the AMD. They act like slow-release electron donos (SRED), avoiding the formation of supersaturated sulfide areas. Thus, the sulfide metals crystals formed can cluster forming bigger particles, more sedimentable and easier to recover. However, there is a lack of understanding the impact of metals in bioreactors fed with lignocellulosic material. Therefore, the presente work aims to analyse and compare the impact of Fe, Cu, Co, Ni e Zn on bioreactors fed with different electrons donors. As electrons donors will be used sugarcane bagasse and a mix of low weight organic compounds (glycerol, lactate and sucrose). The first step will be the Building of a Plackett-Burman design. Different concentrations of metals will be carried out, analyzing how each metal impacts the different metabolic pathways used. The analysis will be made for hydrolitic, fermentative and sulfate reducing pathways. Lastly, the toxic effect of sulfide over hidrolitic, fermentative and sulfate reductor bacteria is going to be monitored, using different initial sulfide concentrations.