The impact of salinity on the performance and microbial composition of a sulfate reducing reactor. Saline sulfate reducing bioreactors

The effect of salinity on the performance and composition of a sulfate-reducing culture enriched from a saline environment was examined. Sulfate reducing activity was maintained in the test reactor up to a salinity of 35g NaCl/L after which performance deteriorated at a salinity level of 42.5 g NaCl/L, and reduced to 62% of the baseline rate at a salinity of 50 g NaCl/L. Reductions in performance were reflected by the build-up of acetate and propionate concomitant with the growth of incomplete oxidizer Desulfocella