Performance of Paracoccus Solventivorans SP as Sulphur Oxidizing Bacteria to Remove Odour and H2S Has in the Biological Treatment of Malodour

Abstract

The presence of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is one of the most problematic contaminants in biogas which emitted from industrial processes causing odour nuisance to the surrounding community. Thus, the ability of sulphur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) could eliminate H2S by changes it into non-odorous elemental sulfur or sulfate was investigated. Basically, most of identified sulphur oxidizing bacteria belongs to the Thiobacillus, Thiothrix, Thiomicrospira, Achromatium, Desulfuromonas and Paracoccus which occurs in heterotropic bacteria isolated from soil and marine environment. In corresponding of that, about 400 million of palm oil mill effluent (POME) pond found in Malaysia that could be one of the potential supply places for isolation of SOB as it contains elevated concentration of H2S which can support the growth of SOB. To date, many reports utilized SOB can eliminate the high concentration of H2S in environments. Hence, in this study the bacteria of Paracoccus solventivorans ATCC 700252 were used as SOB and mixed with media by biofiltration process. Based on final result, these bacteria demonstrated reduction of H2S with removal efficiency 31% to 64.02% with the sulphate content production is 30 mg/l compare without SOB, the removal efficiency of H2S about 23% to 46% with sulphate content production is 12 mg/l after 28 days. The suitable condition for the growth of sulphur oxidizing bacteria affected on H2S removal efficiency from palm oil mill biogas by biofilter system. Besides that, the odour reduction for media with SOB is higher (73.5%) compared to media without SOB (66.9%). The reason for this phenomenon is due to the ability of SOB to absorb the odorous ‘rotten egg’ smell and changes into elemental sulfur that is no longer hazaroud. In this regard, the utilization of Paracoccus solventivorans ATCC 700252 will create a new industry for application in the H2S removal and protect the environment from odour pollution.