Addition Of Inoculum Research Articles

Hydrogen fermentation of food waste by alkali-shock pretreatment: Microbial community analysis and limitation of continuous operation

In the study, at first, batch tests were performed to investigate the effect of alkali-shock on H2 production from food waste (FW). After alkali-pretreatment of FW at pH 9.0–13.0, the FW was cultivated under mesophilic condition at pH 6.0 for 30h without external inoculum addition. The amount of H2 production from FW pretreated at pH 11.0 and 12.0 was higher than that achieved in other pretreatment pH. The main metabolite was butyrate, and Clostridium were dominant at pH 11.0 and 12.0. Meanwhile, lactate was the main metabolite with Enterococcus and Streptococcus being the dominant genus at other pretreatment pH. When the batch process was switched to a continuous mode, H2 production was significantly dropped due to the increased activity of H2-consumers. The reliability of alkali-pretreatment at pH 11.0 was proven by repeating the scale-up batch process, recording 1.57±0.11molH2/mol hexoseadded (17±2LH2/kg FW) and 4.39±0.32LH2/L/d.

Optimization of Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) and Inoculums Addition in Wastewater Treatment Using Anaerobic Digestion System

This research aims to get the optimum combination of Hydraulic Retention Time and addition of inoculums in tofu's wastewater treatment using anaerobic system. Research was done using Central Composite Design (CCD) with two factors, which were Hydraulic Retention Time (12; 18; and 24 hours) and addition of inoculums (5%; 10%; and 15%). The desired responses was percentage decrease of COD, BOD, and TSS; and also increase of pH. According to CCD analysis, the best result was optimally gained on HRT 24 hours and 15% inoculums addition. Those combined factors could decrease COD up to 86. 76%, whereas the decreasing amount of BOD was up to 79.23%, and TSS was up to 67.88%. In addition to those combination, pH of tofu's wastewater increased up to 4.5. That showed that anaerobic system could reduce COD, BOD, and TSS but it couldn’t significantly neutralize pH of tofu's wastewater yet. Due to a 24-hours-anaerobic treatment, the degradation process was still in hydrolytic phase. HRT increase and additions of inoculums, as well as the usage of double treatment system (anaerobic-aerobic; aerobic-anaerobic; anaerobic-anaerobic; or aerobic-aerobic) are required to obtain optimal result.

Development, Quality Evaluation and Shelf Life Studies of Probiotic Beverages using Whey and Aloe vera Juice

The investigation was aimed to develop a probiotic beverage using whey and Aloe vera juice. Bifidobacterium bifidus (BB) was used as the probiotic organism, the level of whey and Aloe vera juice, addition of probiotic inoculums and fermentation time were optimized on the basis of sensory quality evaluation. The blend ratio 70:30 of whey and Aloe vera juice and whey fermented for 9 hrs using inoculums 1% BB resulted with highest sensory scores for overall acceptability. The developed probiotic beverage could be recommended for the large scale production at industrial level.

Phytoremediation of Pb and Hg by using Scirpus mucronatus with addition of bacterial inoculums

Two heavy metal-resistant rhizobacteria bacteria (Brevundimonas diminuta SF-S1-5 and Alcaligenes faecalis SF-S1-60) were bioaugmented in sand and also spiked with 100 ppm Pb and 1 ppm Hg and the removal of these metals was monitored using plant, Scirpus mucronatus. The highest accumulation of Pb and Hg were obtained in the root of S. mucronatus inoculated with A. faecalis at day 42 and 28, respectively. Plant inoculated with A. faecalis also showed the highest bioaccumulation coefficient and bioconcentration factor values > 1 compared to plant inoculated with B. diminuta and control.

Increase in biodegradation of paclobutrazol in soils

Background Paclobutrazol is a regulator of vegetal growth that remains active in the soil and can affect the growth and the development of subsequent cultures. Experiments in two soils (A and B) with and without addition of inoculum or mineral medium were performed to investigate the biodegradation of paclobutrazol. The inoculum contained a mixed culture of three strains of bacteria isolated by enrichment and characterized as Pseudomonas. Flasks were incubated at ambient temperature, during 40 days. Paclobutrazol was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Addition of inoculum and mineral medium increased the biodegradation in both soils. The biodegradation ranged between 8 and 95%. Higher biodegradation was obtained with addition of mineral medium, independently of soil utilized.

Effect of acid-pretreatment on hydrogen fermentation of food waste: Microbial community analysis by next generation sequencing

This work presents the effect of acid-pretreatment on H2 fermentation of food waste with detailed microbial information by next generation sequencing. The pretreated food waste at pH 1.0–4.0 was cultivated under mesophilic conditions without external inoculum addition. From the food waste acid-pretreated at pH 1–3, H2 yields in the range of 1.37–1.74 mol H2/mol hexoseadded were achieved, attaining the highest value at pH 2. Clostridium sp. such as Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 and Clostridium perfringens occupied more than 70% of total number of sequences at pH 1–3. On the other hand, in the control (no pretreatment) and at pH 4, lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Streptococcus were found to be the dominant genus (>90% of total number of sequences), resulting in a low H2 yield. In addition, the effect of substrate concentration on H2 fermentation was investigated, and the maximum H2 productivity was estimated to be 27.2 L H2/L/d by Andrew's model.

Effects of Controlled Mycorrhization on Production of Jacaranda mimosifolia D.Don

Growth and mineral absorption of ornamental woody plant such as Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don., in gnotoxenic conditions out of a mycorrhization by a commercial inoculum containing Glomus irregulare were studied. Used Jacaranda plants are one- year old, they were first grown, in 10/12cm caliber pots then in 16/18cm caliber pots for 6 months in a sterile substrate consisting of 2/3 commercial peat and 1/3 sand. Four treatments, achieved three times, were processed. Apart from the control, two other treatments consisted of the addition of commercial inoculum containing Glomus irregulare to the culture substrate, at a rate of 62.5 mg / plant for the first and 100 mg / plant for the second. These quantities respectively correspond to 100 propagules / plant and 160 propagules / plant. The fourth treatment is illustrated by the incorporation of 4g/plant of OSMOCOT EXACT standard-Scotts fertilizer; 15 + 9 + 12 (+2.5), into the substrate. Mycorrhization rate of inoculated plants by 100mg/plant dose reached 43.21% while it only reached 21.48% for those that received 62.5mg/plant. Colonization remains at the beginning of installation presenting essentially mycorrhizal hyphae structures. Mycorrhization significantly improves nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrition of Jacaranda . This result in a stimulation of plant growth Level of mycorrhization by 21.48%, and achieve gains of aerial dry biomass of about 45.5% and root volume of about 46.29%. When the level of mycorrhization is equal to 43.21%, these gains correspond to, respectively, 59.1% and 67.28%. Fertilization provides for gains of 29.58% in aerial dry biomass and 9.69% in plants height. It has no effect on roots volume.

An experimental study on fermentative H2 production from food waste as affected by pH

Batch dark fermentation experiments were performed on food waste and mixtures of food waste and wastewater activated sludge to evaluate the influence of pH on biological H2 production and compare the process performance with and without inoculum addition. The effect of a preliminary thermal shock treatment of the inoculum was also investigated as a means to harvest the hydrogenogenic biomass. The best performance in terms of both H2 generation potential and process kinetics was observed at pH=6.5 under all experimental conditions (no inoculum, and untreated or thermally treated inoculum added). H2 production from food waste was found to be feasible even without inoculum addition, although thermal pre-treatment of the inoculum notably increased the maximum production and reduced the lag phase duration. The analysis of the fermentation products indicated that the biological hydrogen production could be mainly ascribed to a mixed acetate/butyrate-type fermentation. However, the presence of additional metabolites in the digestate, including propionate and ethanol, also indicated that other metabolic pathways were active during the process, reducing substrate conversion into hydrogen. The plateau in H2 generation was found to mirror the condition at which soluble carbohydrates were depleted. Beyond this condition, homoacetogenesis probably started to play a role in the degradation process.

The use of mycorrhiza for eco‐engineering measures in steep alpine environments: effects on soil aggregate formation and fine‐root development

ABSTRACTSteep erosion‐prone and vegetation‐free slopes are widespread in alpine areas and are often discussed since they have a high socio‐economic damage potential. We present an eco‐engineering approach to test whether a mycorrhizal inoculum improves the establishment of hedge brush layers and in turn soil structural stability on a steep, coarse‐grained vegetation‐free slope in the eastern Swiss Alps. We established (i) mycorrhizal and (ii) non‐mycorrhizal treated eco‐engineered research plots on a field experimental scale, covering a total area of approximately 1000 m2 on an east‐northeast (ENE) exposed slope, where many environmental parameters can be regarded as homogeneous. After a full vegetation period, we quantified soil aggregate stability, the formation of water stable aggregates and the fine‐root development.Our results illustrate that the establishment of brush layers without mycorrhizal inoculum increased aggregate stability significantly. Against our expectation and glasshouse experiments, the addition of mycorrhizal inoculum did not have a statistically significant effect after one vegetation period although it tended to increase aggregate stability. Analogously, root length density (RLD) tended to be higher at the non‐mycorrhizal treated site. Aggregate stability was significantly correlated with RLD.Studies on a bigger field experimental scale are inevitable, complement glasshouse studies and lead to a better understanding for a successful application of sustainable eco‐engineering measures in alpine environments. Based on our results and considering the fact that the response time in natural ecosystems may be slower than in laboratory approaches, we conclude that long‐term field studies are necessary to validate results gained through laboratory experiments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bioremoval of heavy metals from recycling industry electronic waste by a consortium of moderate thermophiles: process development and optimization

Abstract The aim of the current work is to develop an environmentally friendly process for the removal of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Al, Cr, Pb) from recycling industry electronic waste with a consortium of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans and Thermoplasma acidophilum . The performances of commercial S 0 powder and biogenic S 0 sludge as substrates for the bio-removal of heavy metals were compared. Empirical models for the bioleaching process based on a statistical analysis were developed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of critical variables including S 0 dosage, particle size, pulp density and bacterial feed formulation (inoculum size and inoculation style) in shaken flasks while specifying the effective variable ranges. Upscale feasibility experiments in a stirred tank reactor demonstrated a maximum metal bio-removal efficiency (92%) at a 1% dosage of biogenic S 0 sludge and 2% dosage of commercial S 0 powder (82%), given a 15% pulp density and 150 μm particle size with an intermittent low-concentration addition of inoculum (1ｘ10 6 cells/mL). Biogenic S 0 sludge showed a higher degree of S 0 oxidation (95%) in a shorter time period (12 days) compared to commercial S 0 powder (82% in 24 days), thereby reducing the process cost. Risk assessments of discarded electronic wastes before and after bioremediation by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), waste extraction test (WET), synthetic precipitation test (SPLP) and total threshold limit concentration (TTLC) indicated that the leaching/toxicity of bio-remediated residue was well within the regulatory limits.

Vegetable waste as substrate and source of suitable microflora for bio-hydrogen production

Self-fermentation of cellulosic substrates to produce biohydrogen without inoculum addition nor pretreatments was investigated. Dark fermentation of two different substrates made of leaf-shaped vegetable refuses (V) and leaf-shaped vegetable refuses plus potato peels (VP), was taken in consideration. Batch experiments were carried out, under two mesophilic anaerobic conditions (28 and 37 °C), in order to isolate and to identify potential H2-producing bacterial strains contained in the vegetable extracts. The effect of initial glucose concentration (at 1, 5 and 10 g/L) on fermentative H2 production by the isolates was also evaluated.H2 production from self-fermentation of both biomasses was found to be feasible, without methane evolution, showing the highest yield for V biomass at 28 °C (24 L/kg VS). The pH control of the culture medium proved to be a critical parameter. The isolates had sequence similarities ≥98% with already known strains, belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae (γ-proteobacteria) and Streptococcaceae (Firmicutes). Four genera found in the samples, namely Pectobacterium, Raoultella, Rahnella and Lactococcus have not been previously described for H2 production from glucose. The isolates showed higher yield (1.6–2.2 mol H2/mol glucoseadded) at low glucose concentration (1 g/L), while the maximum H2 production ranged from 410 to 1016 mL/L and was obtained at a substrate concentration of 10 g/L. The results suggested that vegetable waste can be effectively used as both, substrate and source of suitable microflora for bio-hydrogen production.

Capacity of the bovine intestinal mucus and its components to support growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of cattle by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli increases the risk of contamination of food products at slaughter. Our study aimed to shed more light on the mechanisms used by E. coli O157:H7 to thrive and compete with other bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle. We evaluated, in vitro, bovine intestinal mucus and its constituents in terms of their capacity to support growth of E. coli O157:H7 in presence or absence of fecal inoculum, with and without various enzymes. Growth of E. coli O157:H7 and total anaerobic bacteria were proportionate to the amount of mucus added as substrate. Growth of E. coli O157:H7 was similar for small and large intestinal mucus as substrate, and was partially inhibited with addition of fecal inoculum to cultures, presumably due to competition from other organisms. Whole mucus stimulated growth to the greatest degree compared with other compounds evaluated, but the pathogen was capable of utilizing all substrates to some extent. Addition of enzymes to cultures failed to impact growth of E. coli O157:H7 except for neuraminidase, which resulted in greater growth of E. coli O157 when combined with sialic acid as substrate. In conclusion, E. coli O157 has capacity to utilize small or large intestinal mucus, and growth is greatest with whole mucus compared with individual mucus components. There are two possible explanations for these findings (i) multiple substrates are needed to optimize growth, or alternatively, (ii) a component of mucus not evaluated in this experiment is a key ingredient for optimal growth of E. coli O157:H7.

Rock-Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria and their Effect on Soybean (Glycine max) Growth under Pot Grown Conditions

The modern agriculture is dependent on phosphorus (P) derived from phosphate rock. However, the direct application of low-grade rock phosphate as a P source in soils need an addition of inoculums of phosphate solubilising microorganisms to improve the rock phosphate efficiency as a phosphorus source. Phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) were screened for their phosphate solubilising ability on plates and in liquid cultures supplemented with Malian, Moroccan or Mexican rock phosphates. They were subsequently tested on soybean grown in pots filled with non sterile soil amended with Moroccan rock phosphate for their aptitude in promoting soybean growth. The activity of the different strains on plates indicates Panthoea sp. and Bacillus sp. as the most efficient strains able to show halo zone on plates supplemented all different rock phosphates, with a solubilisation index (SI) of 3.65, 4.10 and 5.42 (Panthoea sp.) and 2.93, 3.13 and 2.13 (Bacillus sp.) respectively for Malian, Moroccan and Mexican rock phosphates. Panthoea sp. remains the strains showing the highest concentration of the solved P with all rock phosphates: 1038.25, 996.67 and 1207.87 µgP/g for Malian, Moroccan and Mexican rock phosphates respectively. It is followed by Klebsiella sp. (862.57, 615.19 and 426.29 µgP/g respectively) and Bacillus sp. (810.86, 270.92 and 180.95 µgP/g). In general, Panthoea sp. and Bacillus sp. better contribute to the soybean growth with the effect of 35% and 34% respectively compare to non inoculated control supplied with non soluble Moroccan rock phosphate. The activity of Klebsiella sp. (13%) that is low in general seems to be stimulated when associated with the two other strains (33%). This suggests that the use of rock phosphate combined with the co-inoculation with those strains would ensure soybean production in economically profitable and environmentally friendly conditions.

Effects of initiating anaerobic digestion of layer-hen poultry dung at sub-atmospheric pressure

This study investigated the effects of initiating anaerobic digestion (AD) of dry layer-hen poultry dung at the sub-atmospheric pressure of -30 cmHg on biodegradation, biogasification, and biomethanation. The setup was performed as a batch process at an average ambient temperature of 29±2 0 C and a retention time of 15 days. Comparisons were made with two other experiments which were both begun at ambient atmospheric pressure; one was inoculated with digestate from a previous layer-hen dung AD, while the other was not inoculated. The bioreactors initiated at sub-atmospheric pressure, ambient atmospheric pressure without inoculum, and ambient atmospheric pressure with inoculum showed the following for biogas and biomethane yields respectively: 16.8 cm 3 g -1 VS and 15.46 cm 3 g -1 VS, 25.10 cm 3 g -1 VS and 12.85 cm 3 g -1 VS, 21.44 cm 3 g -1 VS and 14.88 cm 3 g - 1 VS. In the same order, after AD, the following values were recorded for volatile solids and total viable counts (prokaryotes and fungi) in the digestates: 40.33% and 23.22 x 10 6 cfu mL -1 , 43.42% and 22.17 x 10 6 cfu mL -1 , 41.11% and 13.3 x 10 6 cfu mL -1 . The feedstock showed values of 83.93% and 3.98 x 10 6 cfu mL -1 for volatile solids and total viable count respectively. There was a slight difference in the volatile solids of the digestates of the three bioreactors after AD. The pH recorded for the feedstock slurry before AD was 7.9 at 30 o C, while after AD, the digestates from all the three bioreactors showed the same pH of 5.9 at 29 0 C. Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed no significant difference in biogas yields of the feedstock for the three bioreactors (A, B, C). ANOVA showed no significant difference for biomethane yields in the bioreactors initiated at sub-atmospheric pressure and for those initiated at ambient atmospheric pressure with inoculums. However, it showed significant difference in the bioreactor initiated at sub-atmospheric pressure and that initiated at ambient atmospheric pressure without inoculums, and significant difference in the two sets of bioreactors initiated at ambient atmospheric pressure (with and without inoculum). Initiating AD at reduced atmospheric pressure (-30 cmHg) and the addition of inoculum at ambient atmospheric pressure both increased biomethanation, by 20.31% and 15.80% respectively. The AD initiated at sub-atmospheric pressure yielded the least amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas), and improved biodegradation and biomethanation. The results also suggest that biomethane production is dependent on specific methanogenic growth. Analyzing the populations of methanogens isolated from the different bioreactors in relation to their biomethane yields suggests that Methanosarcina barkeri may have been largely responsible for the differences in biomethane yields.

EFFECT OF ANABAENA VAGINICOLA INOCULUM ON GROWTH OF POT PLANTS

Although much attention has been paid to study of nitrogen fixation by blue-green algae in paddy fields, algae are also beneficial for plant by producing plant - growth promoters like auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid and ethylene. Monoalgal cultures was carried out by growing the isolates in nitrate free BG-11 medium in two liter container at 24° and a 12/12 h light-dark cycle at artificial illumination (2,000-2,500 Lux) with constant stirring and aeration. After three weeks culture was harvested and used as an inoculum. Five healthy seedlings were grown in 1 liter pots (14 cm diam.) including 60% peat, 25% sand and 15% normal soil. No fertilizer was applied, but 400 milliliters algal suspension (OD=0.3) was sprayed on treated and BG-11 medium for untreated pots. The pots were arranged in a completely randomized design in an experimental greenhouse. Growth of plants was evaluated by measuring plant height, root length, number leaf and flowers after 50 days planting. From the results described in this paper, it is clearly showed that the algal culture contained some substances that can promote growth of the plants. Result of this finding also has led to the recognition that addition of algal inoculums positively affected plant height and plant root length.

Effects of inoculum additions in the presence of a preestablished arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community.

Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial for promoting plant productivity in most terrestrial systems, including anthropogenically managed ecosystems. Application of AMF inocula has therefore become a widespread practice. It is, however, pertinent to understand the mechanisms that govern AMF community composition and their performance in order to design successful manipulations. Here we assess whether the composition and plant growth-promotional effects of a synthetic AMF community can be altered by inoculum additions of the isolates forming the community. This was determined by following the effects of three AMF isolates, each inoculated in two propagule densities into a preestablished AMF community. Fungal abundance in roots and plant growth were evaluated in three sequential harvests. We found a transient positive response in AMF abundance to the intraspecific inoculation only in the competitively weakest isolate. The other two isolates responded negatively to intra- and interspecific inoculations, and in some cases plant growth was also reduced. Our results suggest that increasing the AMF density may lead to increased competition among fungi and a trade-off with their ability to promote plant productivity. This is a key ecological aspect to consider when introducing AMF into soils.

Effects of inoculum and indigenous microflora on hydrogen production from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Biological production of hydrogen (H2) by dark fermentation is an exciting scientific area for the conversion of low-cost residues and waste into biofuel. The main requirement for an efficient H2 production process is the availability of efficient microbial consortia in which H2-utilizing and non-H2-producing bacteria are suppressed. This study was performed to evaluate the H2 production potentials from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with and without addition of inoculum. The results showed that hydrogen productions from OFMSW without addition of inoculum were comparable to those obtained with inoculum but a latency phase of about 6 days occurred. On the contrary, addition of inoculum resulted in higher H2 production potentials without any latency phase. The use of a properly pre-treated inoculum confirmed to be an interesting and improvable tool to obtain high H2 yields from organic waste. However the indigenous OFMSW microbiota showed promising hydrogen yields especially toward the development of efficient hydrogen producing microbial inoculants.

“Methano-compost”, a booster and restoring agent for thermophilic anaerobic digestion of energy crops

The influence of plant litter-compost of the hot rotten-phase as additional inoculum for anaerobic batch digestion of sugar beet silage (SBS) was studied. Four simultaneously driven batch-fermenters were inoculated with sewage sludge. Two of the fermenters were inoculated additionally with the same amount of organics by compost of the hot rotten-phase. Two of the fermenters were mesophilic (40 °C) and the other two were thermophilic (60 °C). The impact on the gas production rate and gas yield was observed to be boosted for thermophilic (60 °C) and only a minor effect of 6–13% for mesophilic (40 °C) digestion. The gas yield increased considerably up to 26.5% at 60 °C (batch). Also the methane content increased from 57.4% to 62.3% by adding compost (continuously run mesophilic digestion). Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) indicated that a microbial effect was responsible for the observed stimulation of gas production rates, but not simply by increasing the bacterial counts. By analysing each fermenter for its mineral and trace element content a mineralic effect could be excluded. However, the bacterial counts by FISH of 10 different groups were somewhat ambiguous. But an effect on the presence of Chloroflexi could be demonstrated. They nearly doubled to 15–16% by supplementation with compost. Furthermore, under thermophilic conditions, the added compost induced a significant shift in the microbial composition towards hydrogenotrophic Methanobacteriales. The suggestive conclusion drawn is that this explicitly increase in hydrogenotrophic activity could alone or in combination with accompanying fermentative bacteria forces the microbial food chain towards stimulation of methane generation.

Toxicity assessment and biodegradation potential of water-soluble sludge containing 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

The water-soluble phase of trinitrotoluene-containing sludge (SLP) was characterized with regard to trinitrotoluene (TNT) concentration, ecotoxicity, and a model biodegradation experiment as evaluation criteria for further development of appropriate treatment technologies. SLP contained 67.8 mg TNT/l. The results of germination and root-elongation tests indicated that SLP had a species-specific phytotoxic effect. The results of a 21 day degradation experiment demonstrated TNT conversion to 4-amino-2,6-DNT and 2-amino-4,6-DNT, with a simultaneous reduction in the total concentration of nitroaromatics. Addition of inoculum stimulated the TNT degradation process. The presence of the sludge solid phase inhibited microbial activity. Measurement of microbial enzyme activity was used to assess changes in the microbial community during the biodegradation process.

Optimization of cyanidation tailings bioremediation adding nutrients and microorganisms

The objective of this project was to find optimum parameters for the development of bioremediation process of cyanidation tailings by addition of nutrients and microorganisms. It was tested the use of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to stabilize metal ions through the formation of sulphides and; bacteria able to biodegrade cyanide (BC). Factorial experiments were conducted at level of columns. SRB from Cyanidation tailings were isolated and BC proceeded from pregnant solution of cyanidation. BSR and BC were adapted to tailings. A column test was performed to try: 1. the effect of using 1 and 10 mM lactate to increase the activity of BSR and 2. Addition of 0,1 and 1 mM sodium acetate and phosphoric acid to improve the activity of BC. In order to optimize parameters, it was tested in columns, effect of a mixed culture (SRB-BC) and nutrients (1 mM lactate and Acetate 1mM). Nutrients were found to increase the reduction of sulfate to 48% (average) and the addition of inoculums to 42%. Bioremediation of cyanide was 12%. It was not shown effect on the addition of nutrients or inoculums on Cyanide degradation. Two additional tailings were tested and the addition of 1 mM sodium lactate allowed the induction of BSR in 8 days in one of them.