BACTERIAL DIVERSITY AND SULFIDE REMOVAL IN AN INTERNAL SILICON MEMBRANE REACTOR

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using an Internal Silicon Membrane Reactor (ISMR) to treat dissolved sulfide and to characterize its microbial community. The Internal Silicon Membrane Reactor (ISMR) has shown to be an effective system to eliminate sulfide produced in anaerobic reactors. Removal efficiencies of sulfide reached 96% in a combined anaerobic/micro-aerobic reactor and significant sulfate production did not occur. The oxygen transfer was strongly influenced by air pressure and flow. Pirosequencing analysis indicated different sulfide-oxidizing bacteria attached on to the membrane. The results also indicates a high similarity between the biomass deposited in the membrane wall and the biomass drawn from of the material support, that demonstrate the development of sulfide oxidizing bacteria in an anaerobic sludge under micro aerobic condition.