Hydrogen sulfide degradation characteristics of Bordetella sp. Sulf-8 in a biotrickling filter.

The applicability of Bordetella sp. Sulf-8 to degrade Hydrogen Sulfide (H(2)S) gas in a biotrickling system was investigated. The isolate is a heterotrophic gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped bacterium which can metabolize thiosulfate or sulfide into sulfate. The mesophilic Bordetella sp. Sulf-8 can grow within a wide pH range using yeast as carbon source, with or without the presence of sulfur. In batch experiments, kinetic constants such as maximum specific growth rate (μ (max) = 0.12 1/h), saturation constant (K (S) = 0.017 g/L), and specific sulfur removal rate (88 mg S/g cells h) were obtained. In biotrickling experiments removal efficiencies were satisfactory, but the system performance was observed to be more influenced by empty bed residence time than by H(2)S feed gas concentration. Critical and maximum elimination capacities were 78.0 and 94.5 g H(2)S/m(3) day, respectively. Macrokinetic analysis of the biotrickling system revealed maximum H(2)S removal rate V (max) = 15.97 g S/kg media-day and half saturation constant K (S') = 12.45 ppm(v).