NO removal in continuous BioDeNOx reactors: Fe(II)EDTA2- regeneration, biomass growth, and EDTA degradation

BioDeNOx is a novel technique for NOx removal from industrial flue gases. In principle, BioDeNOx is based on NO absorption into an aqueous Fe(II)EDTA2- solution combined with biological regeneration of that scrubber liquor in a bioreactor. The technical and economical feasibility of the BioDeNOx concept is strongly determined by high rate biological regeneration of the aqueous Fe(II)EDTA2- scrubber liquor and by EDTA degradation. This investigation deals with the Fe(II)EDTA2- regeneration capacity and EDTA degradation in a lab-scale BioDeNOx reactor (10-20 mM Fe(II)EDTA2-, pH 7.2 +/- 0.2, 55 degrees C), treating an artificial flue gas (1.5 m3/h) containing 60-155 ppm NO and 3.5-3.9% O2. The results obtained show a contradiction between the optimal redox state of the aqueous FeEDTA solution for NO absorption and the biological regeneration. A low redox potential (below -150 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) is needed to obtain a maximal NO removal efficiency from the gas phase via Fe(II)EDTA2- absorption. Fe(III)EDTA- reduction was found to be too slow to keep all FeEDTA in the reduced state. Stimulation of Fe(III)EDTA- reduction via periodical sulfide additions (2 mM spikes twice a week for the conditions applied in this study) was found to be necessary to regenerate the Fe(II)EDTA2- scrubber liquor and to achieve stable operation at redox potentials below -150 mV (pH 7.2 +/- 0.2). However, redox potentials of below -200 mV should be avoided since sulfide accumulation is unwanted because it is toxic for NO reduction. Very low values for biomass growth rate and yield, respectively, 0.043/d and 0.009 mg protein per mg ethanol, were observed. This might be due to substrate limitations, that is the electron acceptors NO and presumably polysulfide, or to physiological stress conditions induced by the EDTA rich medium or by radicals formed in the scrubber upon the oxidation of Fe(II)EDTA2- by oxygen present in the flue gas. Radicals possibly also induce EDTA degradation, which occurs at a substantial rate: 2.1 (+/-0.1) mM/d under the conditions investigated.     

Enhanced biological removal of NOχ from flue gas in a biofilter by Fe(II)Cit/Fe(II)EDTA absorption

A mixed absorbent had been proposed to enhance the chemical absorption-biological reduction process for NO_x removal from flue gas. The mole ratio of the absorbent of Fe(II)Cit to Fe(II)EDTA was selected to be 3. After the biofilm was formed adequately, some influential factors, such as the concentration of NO, O₂, SO₂ and EBRT were investigated. During the long-term running, the system could keep on a steady NO removal efficiency (up to 90%) and had a flexibility in the sudden changes of operating conditions when the simulated flue gas contained 100-500 ppm NO, 100-800 ppm SO₂, 1-5% (v/v) O₂, and 15% (v/v) CO₂. However, high NO concentration (>800 ppm) and relative short EBRT (<100 s) had significant negative effect on NO removal. The results indicate that the new system by using mixed-absorbent can reduce operating costs in comparison with the single Fe(II)EDTA system and possesses great potential for scale-up to industrial applications.     

Nitric oxide reduction in BioDeNOx reactors: kinetics and mechanism

Biological reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to di-nitrogen (N(2)) gas in aqueous Fe(II)EDTA(2-) solutions is a key reaction in BioDeNOx, a novel process for NOx removal from flue gases. The mechanism and kinetics of the first step of NO reduction, that is, the conversion of NO to N(2)O, was determined in batch experiments using various types of inocula. Experiments were performed in Fe(II)EDTA(2-) medium (5-25 mM) under BioDeNOx reactor conditions (55 degrees C, pH 7.2 +/- 0.2) with ethanol as external electron donor. BioDeNOx reactor mixed liquor gave the highest NO reduction rates (+/-0.34 nmol s(-1) mg(prot)(-1)) with an estimated K(m) value for NO lower than 10 nM. The specific NO (to N(2)O) reduction rate depended on the NO (aq) and Fe(II)EDTA(2-) concentration as well as the temperature. The experimental results, complemented with kinetic and thermodynamic considerations, show that Fe(II)EDTA(2-), and not ethanol, is the primary electron donor for NO reduction, that is, the BioDeNOx reactor medium (the redox system Fe(II)EDTA(2-)/Fe(III)EDTA(-)) interferes with the NO reduction electron transfer chain and thus enhances the NO denitrification rate.     

Evaluation of complexed NO reduction mechanism in a chemical absorption–biological reduction integrated NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> removal system

Biological reduction of nitric oxide (NO) from Fe(II) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-NO to dinitrogen (N(2)) is a core process for the continual nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) removal in the chemical absorption-biological reduction integrated approach. To explore the biological reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO, the stoichiometry and mechanism of Fe(II)EDTA-NO reduction with glucose or Fe(II)EDTA as electron donor were investigated. The experimental results indicate that the main product of complexed NO reduction is N(2), as there was no accumulation of nitrous oxide, ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate after the complete depletion of Fe(II)EDTA-NO. A transient accumulation of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) suggests reduction of complexed NO proceeds with N(2)O as an intermediate. Some quantitative data on the stoichiometry of the reaction are experimental support that reduction of complexed NO to N(2) actually works. In addition, glucose is the preferred and primary electron donor for complexed NO reduction. Fe(II)EDTA served as electron donor for the reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO even in the glucose excessive condition. A maximum reduction capacity as measured by NO (0.818 mM h(-1)) is obtained at 4 mM of Fe(II)EDTA-NO using 5.6 mM of glucose as primary electron donor. These findings impact on the understanding of the mechanism of bacterial anaerobic Fe(II)EDTA-NO reduction and have implication for improving treatment methods of this integrated approach.     

Biological reduction of nitric oxide in aqueous Fe(II)EDTA solutions

The reduction of nitric oxide (NO) in aqueous solutions of Fe(II)EDTA is one of the core processes in BioDeNOx, an integrated physicochemical and biological technique for NO(x)() removal from industrial flue gases. NO reduction in aqueous solutions of Fe(II)EDTA (20-25 mM, pH 7.2 +/- 0.2) was investigated in batch experiments at 55 degrees C. Reduction of NO to N(2) was found to be biologically catalyzed with nitrous oxide (N(2)O) as an intermediate. Various sludges from full-scale denitrifying and anaerobic reactors were capable to catalyze NO reduction under thermophilic conditions. The NO reduction rate was not affected by the presence of ethanol or acetate. EDTA-chelated Fe(II) was found to be a suitable electron donor for the biological reduction of nitric oxide to N(2), with the concomitant formation of Fe(III)EDTA. In the presence of ethanol, EDTA-chelated Fe(III) was reduced to Fe(II)EDTA. This study strongly indicates that redox cycling of FeEDTA plays an important role in the biological denitrification process within the BioDeNOx concept.     

The influence of ferrous-complexed EDTA as a solubilization agent and its auto-regeneration on the removal of nitric oxide gas through the culture of green alga Scenedesmus sp

The influence of iron-complexed ehylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was studied on nitric oxide (NO) removal using photoautotropic cultivation of green alga Scenedesmus. Fe(II)EDTA is an active solubilization agent of NO in water, while the oxidized Fe(III)EDTA is not. When a gas mixture containing 300 ppm NO was treated through the Scenedesmus culture containing 5 mM Fe(II)EDTA, a constant level of 80–85% NO removal was achieved for a prolonged period. A certain fraction of Fe(II)EDTA remained without being oxidized to Fe(III)EDTA because of the existence of reversible oxidation–reduction balance between Fe(II)EDTA and Fe(III)EDTA. When Fe(III)EDTA was added to the culture instead of Fe(II)EDTA, Fe(II) was generated via reduction of Fe(III), resulting in the increase of NO removal and cell density. This was possible because of the generated Fe(II)EDTA which contributed to the dissolution of NO. Therefore, a long-term NO removal was possible with Fe(III)EDTA, as well as with Fe(II)EDTA, in the present microalgal system. The supplementation of free EDTA was necessary to extend the period of NO removal because EDTA is consumed by biodegradation while the decrease of total iron content was not significant.     

Characterization of microbial communities removing nitrogen oxides from flue gas: the BioDeNOx process

BioDeNOx is an integrated physicochemical and biological process for the removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from flue gases. In this process, the flue gas is purged through a scrubber containing a solution of Fe(II)EDTA2-, which binds the NOx to form an Fe(II)EDTA.NO2- complex. Subsequently, this complex is reduced in the bioreactor to dinitrogen by microbial denitrification. Fe(II)EDTA2-, which is oxidized to Fe(III)EDTA- by oxygen in the flue gas, is regenerated by microbial iron reduction. In this study, the microbial communities of both lab- and pilot-scale reactors were studied using culture-dependent and -independent approaches. A pure bacterial strain, KT-1, closely affiliated by 16S rRNA analysis to the gram-positive denitrifying bacterium Bacillus azotoformans, was obtained. DNA-DNA homology of the isolate with the type strain was 89%, indicating that strain KT-1 belongs to the species B. azotoformans. Strain KT-1 reduces Fe(II)EDTA.NO2- complex to N2 using ethanol, acetate, and Fe(II)EDTA2- as electron donors. It does not reduce Fe(III)EDTA-. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments showed the presence of bacteria closely affiliated with members of the phylum Deferribacteres, an Fe(III)-reducing group of bacteria. Fluorescent in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes designed for strain KT-1 and members of the phylum Deferribacteres showed that the latter were more dominant in both reactors.     

Biological and chemical interaction of oxygen on the reduction of Fe(III)EDTA in a chemical absorption–biological reduction integrated NO x removal system

A promising chemical absorption–biological reduction integrated process has been proposed. A major problem of the process is oxidation of the active absorbent, ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Fe(II)EDTA), to the ferric species, leading to a significant decrease in NO removal efficiency. Thus the biological reduction of Fe(III)EDTA is vitally important for the continuous NO removal. Oxygen, an oxidizing agent and biological inhibitor, is typically present in the flue gas. It can significantly retard the application of the integrated process. This study investigated the influence mechanism of oxygen on the regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA in order to provide insight on how to eliminate or decrease the oxygen influence. The experimental results revealed that the dissolved oxygen and Fe(III)EDTA simultaneously served as electron acceptor for the microorganism. The Fe(III)EDTA reduction activity were directly inhibited by the dissolved oxygen. When the bioreactor was supplied with 3% and 8% oxygen in the gas phase, the concentration of initial dissolved oxygen in the liquid phase was 0.28 and 0.68 mg l⁻¹. Correspondingly, the instinct Fe(III)EDTA reduction activity of the microorganism determined under anoxic condition in a rotation shaker decreased from 1.09 to 0.84 and 0.49 mM h⁻¹. The oxidation of Fe(II)EDTA with dissolved oxygen prevented more dissolved oxygen access to the microorganism and eased the inhibition of dissolved oxygen on the microorganisms.     

Reduction of Fe(III) chelated with citrate in an NOx scrubber solution by Enterococcus sp. FR-3

Biological reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) is a key step in nitrogen oxide (NO(x)) removal by the integrated chemical absorption-biological reduction process. NO(x) removal efficiency strongly depends on the concentration of Fe(II) in the scrubbing liquid. In this study, a newly isolated strain, Enterococcus sp. FR-3, was used to reduce Fe(III) chelated with citrate to Fe(II). Strain FR-3 reduced citrate-chelated Fe(III) with an efficiency of up to 86.9% and an average reduction rate of 0.21 mM h(-1). SO(4)(2-) was not inhibitory whereas NO(2)(-) and SO(3)(2-) inhibited cell growth and thus affected Fe(III) reduction. Models based on the Logistic equation were used to describe the relationship between growth and Fe(III) reduction. These findings provide some useful data for Fe(III) reduction, scrubber solution regeneration and NO(x) removal process design.     

Reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO by a newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> sp. strain DN-2 in NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> scrubber solution

Biological reduction of nitric oxide (NO) chelated by ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Fe(II)EDTA) to N₂ is one of the core processes in a chemical absorption–biological reduction integrated technique for nitrogen oxide (NO _x ) removal from flue gases. A new isolate, identified as Pseudomonas sp. DN-2 by 16S rRNA sequence analysis, was able to reduce Fe(II)EDTA-NO. The specific reduction capacity as measured by NO was up to 4.17 mmol g DCW⁻¹ h⁻¹. Strain DN-2 can simultaneously use glucose and Fe(II)EDTA as electron donors for Fe(II)EDTA-NO reduction. Fe(III)EDTA, the oxidation of Fe(II)EDTA by oxygen, can also serve as electron acceptor by strain DN-2. The interdependency between various chemical species, e.g., Fe(II)EDTA-NO, Fe(II)EDTA, or Fe (III)EDTA, was investigated. Though each complex, e.g., Fe(II)EDTA-NO or Fe(III)EDTA, can be reduced by its own dedicated bacterial strain, strain DN-2 capable of reducing Fe(III)EDTA can enhance the regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA, hence can enlarge NO elimination capacity. Additionally, the inhibition of Fe(II)EDTA-NO on the Fe(III)EDTA reduction has been explored previously. Strain DN-2 is probably one of the major contributors for the continual removal of NO _x due to the high Fe(II)EDTA-NO reduction rate and the ability of Fe(III)EDTA reduction.     

Correlating on-line monitoring parameters, pH, DO and ORP with nutrient removal in an intermittent cyclic process bioreactor system

The paper presents the study correlating the profile of on-line monitoring parameters and nutrient removal in an intermittent cyclic process bioreactor (ICPBR) system, thereby utilizing the parameters as operational tool. A laboratory scale ICPBR was employed to treat low C/N ratio domestic wastewater from a township. The study was conducted for correlating biological nutrient removal and on-line monitored parameters pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). The results revealed that pH, DO and ORP related with the dynamic behavior of nutrient concentration (NH4-N, NO3-N, and PO4-P) during treatment in an ICPBR system. The variation in pH and ORP of the reactor liquor correlate to conversion of ammonia (NH4-N) and nitrate (NO3-N) concentrations, respectively. As the bioconversion of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus are related to the varying profile of the on-line monitored parameters, the profiles could possibly be used as onsite process control parameters.     

A new approach for Fe(III)EDTA reduction in NOx scrubber solution using bio-electro reactor

A new process for the removal of NO_x by a combined Fe(II)EDTA absorption and microbial reduction has been demonstrated, in which part of the Fe(II)EDTA will be oxidized by oxygen in the flue gas to form Fe(III)EDTA. In former studies, strain FR-2 has been found to reduce Fe(III)EDTA efficiently. Otherwise, it has been reported that bio-electro reactor could efficiently provide a chance for simultaneous denitrification and metal ion removal. Therefore, a use of bio-electro reactor is suggested to promote the reduction of Fe(III)EDTA by strain FR-2 in this paper. The results showed that the concentration of Fe(III)EDTA decreased rapidly when electric current was applied, and that as the current density rose, the Fe(III)EDTA reduction rate increased while followed by a decrease afterward. The formation of the biofilm on the electrode was observed by ESEM (Environmental Scan Electro-Microscope). In addition, the Fe(III)EDTA reduction rate obviously decreased with the existence of NaNO₂.     

Enhancement of nitric oxide solubility using Fe(II)EDTA and its removal by green algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scenedesmus</Emphasis> sp.

A photoautotrophic cultivation of green algae Scenedesmus cells was used for the removal of nitric oxide (NO) from a model flue gas mixture. In an attempt to improve the solubility of NO in the culture broth, the addition of Fe(II)EDTA to the cultivation was investigated. The addition of Fe(II)EDTA greatly enhanced NO-dissolution in the culture broth and subsequently increased the algal-uptake of NO. NO was assimilated as a source of nitrogen for the growth of Scenedesmus cells since there was a steady increase in cell density with no other nitrogen source in the culture except the incoming NO. 40–45% of NO removal was maintained for more than 12 days with the addition of 5 mM Fe(II)EDTA in a 1-L air-lift type photobioreactor system fed with 300 ppm of NO gas at a rate of 0.3 wm. However, the NO-dissolution-enhancing capacity of Fe(II)EDTA did not reach its full potential due to its oxidation to Fe(III)EDTA, possibly induced by molecular oxygen that evolved from algal photosynthesis, and subsequent loss of chelating capabilities.     

Effect of sulfur compounds on biological reduction of nitric oxide in aqueous Fe(II)EDTA2- solutions.

Biological reduction of nitric oxide (NO) in aqueous solutions of EDTA chelated Fe(II) is one of the main steps in the BioDeNOx process, a novel bioprocess for the removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from polluted gas streams. Since NOx contaminated gases usually also contain sulfurous pollutants, the possible interferences of these sulfur compounds with the BioDeNOx process need to be identified. Therefore, the effect of the sulfur compounds Na2SO4, Na2SO3, and H2S on the biological NO reduction in aqueous solutions of Fe(II)EDTA2- (25 mM, pH 7.2, 55 degrees C) was studied in batch experiments. Sulfate and sulfite were found to not affect the reduction rate of Fe(II)EDTA2- complexed NO under the conditions tested. Sulfide, either dosed externally or formed during the batch incubation out of endogenous sulfur sources or the supplied sulfate or sulfite, influences the production and consumption of the intermediate nitrous oxide (N2O) during Fe(II)EDTA2- bound NO reduction. At low concentrations (0.2 g VSS/l) of denitrifying sludge, 0.2 mM free sulfide completely inhibited the nitrosyl-complex reduction. At higher biomass concentrations (1.3-2.3 g VSS/l), sulfide (from 15 microM to 0.8 mM) induced an incomplete NO denitrification with N2O accumulation. The reduction rates of NO to N2O were enhanced by anaerobic sludge, presumably because it kept FeEDTA in the reduced state.     

Bioflocculation of microalgae and bacteria combined with flue gas to improve sewage treatment

Although microalgae are promising for a cradle-to-cradle design approach of sewage treatment, their application is hampered by high harvesting costs and low C:N ratios of sewage. Therefore, the potential of microalgal bacterial flocs (MaB-flocs) was investigated for the secondary treatment of sewage supplemented with different flue gas flow rates (FGFRs) from a coal power plant. Effluent (N, P, turbidity and pH) and off gas discharge levels (NO(x), SO(x)) met the European discharge limits with a hydraulic retention time of only 0.67 days and an FGFR of 0.6Lh(-1) (0.0025 vvm). This FGFR provided sufficient carbon and resulted in removal efficiencies of 48 ± 7% CO(2), 87 ± 5% NO(x) and 99 ± 1% SO(2). MaB-flocs settled fast reaching up to a density of 19 g VSSL(-1). High biomass productivities (0.18 gL(-1)day(-1)) were obtained under a low light intensity. This successful reactor performance indicates the large potential for the industrial application of MaB-flocs for flue gas sparged sewage treatment.     

Nitrate-dependent [Fe(II)EDTA]2- oxidation by Paracoccus ferrooxidans sp. nov., isolated from a denitrifying bioreactor

Enrichments with [Fe(II)EDTA]2- as electron donor and nitrate or nitrite as electron acceptor were established using an inoculum from a bioreactor performing denitrification. A nitrate-reducing, [Fe(II)EDTA]2- oxidizing strain was isolated and named strain BDN-1. The G + C content of strain BDN-1 was 67%, and the organism was closely affiliated to Paracoccus denitrificans, P. pantotrophus and P. versutus by 16S rRNA sequence comparison. Results from DNA-DNA hybridization, rep-PCR, and whole cell protein analysis gave congruent results confirming the genotypic and phenotypic differences between strain BDN-1 and the other species of Paracoccus. From these results, we considered strain BDN-1 as a novel species for which we propose the name Paracoccus ferrooxidans. Apart from [Fe(II)EDTA]2-, BDN-1 could also use thiosulfate and thiocyanate as inorganic electron donors. Nitrate, nitrite, N2O, [Fe(II)EDTA.NO]2- and oxygen could be used by strain BDN-1 as electron acceptors. Repeated transfer on a culture medium with bicarbonate as the sole carbon source confirmed that strain BDN-1 was a facultative autotroph. [Fe(II)EDTA]2- oxidation dependent denitrification was also performed by other Paracoccus species, that were closely affiliated to P. ferrooxidans.     

Chemical and biological interactions during nitrate and goethite reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens 200

Although previous research has demonstrated that NO(3)(-) inhibits microbial Fe(III) reduction in laboratory cultures and natural sediments, the mechanisms of this inhibition have not been fully studied in an environmentally relevant medium that utilizes solid-phase, iron oxide minerals as a Fe(III) source. To study the dynamics of Fe and NO(3)(-) biogeochemistry when ferric (hydr)oxides are used as the Fe(III) source, Shewanella putrefaciens 200 was incubated under anoxic conditions in a low-ionic-strength, artificial groundwater medium with various amounts of NO(3)(-) and synthetic, high-surface-area goethite. Results showed that the presence of NO(3)(-) inhibited microbial goethite reduction more severely than it inhibited microbial reduction of the aqueous or microcrystalline sources of Fe(III) used in other studies. More interestingly, the presence of goethite also resulted in a twofold decrease in the rate of NO(3)(-) reduction, a 10-fold decrease in the rate of NO(2)(-) reduction, and a 20-fold increase in the amounts of N(2)O produced. Nitrogen stable isotope experiments that utilized delta(15)N values of N(2)O to distinguish between chemical and biological reduction of NO(2)(-) revealed that the N(2)O produced during NO(2)(-) or NO(3)(-) reduction in the presence of goethite was primarily of abiotic origin. These results indicate that concomitant microbial Fe(III) and NO(3)(-) reduction produces NO(2)(-) and Fe(II), which then abiotically react to reduce NO(2)(-) to N(2)O with the subsequent oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III).     

Simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrate in an airlift bioreactor

This paper presents the integrated removal of carbon (measured as chemical oxygen demand i.e. COD) and NO(x)-N by sequentially adapted sludge, studied in an airlift reactor (ALR). Simultaneous removal of COD and nitrate occurs by denitrification (anoxic) and oxidation (aerobic). Aerobic (riser) and anoxic (remaining part) conditions prevail in different parts of the reactor. Studies were carried out in a 42 L ALR operated at low aeration rate to maintain anoxic and aerobic conditions as required for denitrification and COD removal, respectively. The sludge was adapted sequentially to increasing levels of NO(x)-N and COD over a period of 45 days. Nitrate removal efficiency of the sludge increased due to adaptation and degraded 900 ppm NO(3)-N completely in 2h (initially the sludge could not degrade 100 ppm NO(3)-N). The performance of the adapted sludge was tested for the degradation of synthetic waste with COD/N loadings in the range of 4-10. The reduction of COD was significantly faster in the presence of NO(x)-N and was attributed to the availability of oxygen from NO(x)-N and distinct conditions in the reactor. This hypothesis was justified by the material balance of COD.     

Inhibition of NO3- and NO2- reduction by microbial Fe(III) reduction: evidence of a reaction between NO2- and cell surface-bound Fe2+

A recent study (D. C. Cooper, F. W. Picardal, A. Schimmelmann, and A. J. Coby, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:3517-3525, 2003) has shown that NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) (NO(x)(-)) reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens 200 is inhibited in the presence of goethite. The hypothetical mechanism offered to explain this finding involved the formation of a Fe(III) (hydr)oxide coating on the cell via the surface-catalyzed, abiotic reaction between Fe(2+) and NO(2)(-). This coating could then inhibit reduction of NO(x)(-) by physically blocking transport into the cell. Although the data in the previous study were consistent with such an explanation, the hypothesis was largely speculative. In the current work, this hypothesis was tested and its environmental significance explored through a number of experiments. The inhibition of approximately 3 mM NO(3)(-) reduction was observed during reduction of a variety of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides, including goethite, hematite, and an iron-bearing, natural sediment. Inhibition of oxygen and fumarate reduction was observed following treatment of cells with Fe(2+) and NO(2)(-), demonstrating that utilization of other soluble electron acceptors could also be inhibited. Previous adsorption of Fe(2+) onto Paracoccus denitrificans inhibited NO(x)(-) reduction, showing that Fe(II) can reduce rates of soluble electron acceptor utilization by non-iron-reducing bacteria. NO(2)(-) was chemically reduced to N(2)O by goethite or cell-sorbed Fe(2+), but not at appreciable rates by aqueous Fe(2+). Transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed an electron-dense, Fe-enriched coating on cells treated with Fe(2+) and NO(2)(-). The formation and effects of such coatings underscore the complexity of the biogeochemical reactions that occur in the subsurface.     

Microalgal biomass production and on-site bioremediation of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide from flue gas using Chlorella sp. cultures

The growth and on-site bioremediation potential of an isolated thermal- and CO?-tolerant mutant strain, Chlorella sp. MTF-7, were investigated. The Chlorella sp. MTF-7 cultures were directly aerated with the flue gas generated from coke oven of a steel plant. The biomass concentration, growth rate and lipid content of Chlorella sp. MTF-7 cultured in an outdoor 50-L photobioreactor for 6 days was 2.87 g L?1 (with an initial culture biomass concentration of 0.75 g L?1), 0.52 g L?1 d?1 and 25.2%, respectively. By the operation with intermittent flue gas aeration in a double-set photobioreactor system, average efficiency of CO? removal from the flue gas could reach to 60%, and NO and SO? removal efficiency was maintained at approximately 70% and 50%, respectively. Our results demonstrate that flue gas from coke oven could be directly introduced into Chlorella sp. MTF-7 cultures to potentially produce algal biomass and efficiently capture CO?, NO and SO? from flue gas.