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The role of sulfate reducing bacteria in copper removal from aqueous sulfate solutions Jalali, Kathy K.
Abstract
Grown waters contaminated with copper from the mining industry are matters of concern in Canada. This research investigated the feasibility of using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) for treatment of copper sulfate solutions. The growth of sulfate reducing bacteria in copper sulfate solutions and their efficiency of removal of copper from those solutions were investigated by (i) varying the copper concentration from 0-200 ppm, (ii) comparing copper precipitation between SRB enriched from a mixed culture and two pure cultures: Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, and Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and (iii) the study of copper removal kinetics. Electron microscopy and subsequent image analysis of the micrographs detennined the location of copper precipitates and idicated the direct role of the bacteria in copper removal. Copper was removed effectively by the SRB enrichments to less than 0.1 ppm from copper-sulfate solutions containing 150 ppm or less initial copper concentration. All cultures having copper included showed some degree of sulfate inhibition after five days of incubation, although this inhibition was not very significant below 100 ppm initial copper concentration. Kinetic experiments indicated that precipitates of copper form very early in the incubation period. This early precipitation is most likely due to the reaction of copper ions with hydrogen sulfide present in the inocula. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, and Desulfovibrio vulgaris removed copper from sulfate solution, but not as effectively as the SRB enrichments. Above 50-ppm initial concentration of copper, significant inhibition of sulfate reduction was observed. Visual observations of the precipitates and solids indicated dense packing and good settling. Well-contrasted images of unstained bacteria confirmed that copper sulfides formed when associated with the cell surface. Cells showed a high degree of capsule production in the presence of copper in solution. This phenomenon is the most likely reason for the formation of the flocculates.
Item Metadata
Title |
The role of sulfate reducing bacteria in copper removal from aqueous sulfate solutions
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1998
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Description |
Grown waters contaminated with copper from the mining industry are matters of
concern in Canada. This research investigated the feasibility of using sulfate-reducing
bacteria (SRB) for treatment of copper sulfate solutions. The growth of sulfate reducing
bacteria in copper sulfate solutions and their efficiency of removal of copper from those
solutions were investigated by (i) varying the copper concentration from 0-200 ppm, (ii)
comparing copper precipitation between SRB enriched from a mixed culture and two
pure cultures: Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, and Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and (iii) the study
of copper removal kinetics. Electron microscopy and subsequent image analysis of the
micrographs detennined the location of copper precipitates and idicated the direct role of
the bacteria in copper removal.
Copper was removed effectively by the SRB enrichments to less than 0.1 ppm
from copper-sulfate solutions containing 150 ppm or less initial copper concentration. All
cultures having copper included showed some degree of sulfate inhibition after five days
of incubation, although this inhibition was not very significant below 100 ppm initial
copper concentration. Kinetic experiments indicated that precipitates of copper form
very early in the incubation period. This early precipitation is most likely due to the
reaction of copper ions with hydrogen sulfide present in the inocula. Desulfovibrio
desulfuricans, and Desulfovibrio vulgaris removed copper from sulfate solution, but not
as effectively as the SRB enrichments. Above 50-ppm initial concentration of copper,
significant inhibition of sulfate reduction was observed.
Visual observations of the precipitates and solids indicated dense packing and
good settling. Well-contrasted images of unstained bacteria confirmed that copper
sulfides formed when associated with the cell surface. Cells showed a high degree of
capsule production in the presence of copper in solution. This phenomenon is the most
likely reason for the formation of the flocculates.
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Extent |
12168605 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-06-11
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0058631
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1999-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.