The competition between sulfate-reducing bacteria and methane-producing archaea has a major influence on organic matter removal, as well as the success of sulfidogenic systems. This study investigated the performance of six batch sulfidogenic reactors in response to different COD/sulfate ratios (1.0 and 2.0) and electron donors (cheese whey, ethanol, and sodium lactate) by evaluating the biochemical mechanisms of sulfate reduction, organic matter oxidation, and microbial structure modification. A COD/sulfate ratio of 1.0 resulted in high sulfidogenic activity for all electron donors, thereby achieving a nearly 80% sulfate removal. Lactate provided high sulfate removal rates at COD/sulfate ratios of 1.0 (80%) and 2.0 (90%). A COD/sulfate ratio of 2.0 decreased the sulfate removal rates by 25 and 28% when ethanol and cheese whey were used as substrates. The sulfate-reducing bacteria populations increased using ethanol and lactate at a COD/sulfate ratio of 1.0. Particularly, Desulfovibrio, Clostridium, and Syntrophobacter were predominant. Influent composition and COD/sulfate ratio influenced the relative abundance of the microbial communities. Therefore, controlling these parameters may facilitate the wastewater treatment with high sulfate levels through bacterial activity. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Actual acid mine drainage (AMD) containing a high concentration of sulfate (∼1,000 mg·L⁻¹), dissolved metals, uranium and rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) was treated using a down-flow fixed-structured bed biological reactor (DFSBR). The reactor was operated in a continuous flow mode for 175 days and the temperature was maintained at 30 °C. The synthetic AMD was gradually replaced by the actual AMD in 20, 50 and 75% of the total medium volume. Sugarcane vinasse was used as the electron donor and the influent pH of the reactor was decreased from 6.9 to 4.6 until the system collapsed. REY elements and transition metals were removed from the actual AMD and precipitated in the down-flow fixed-structured bed reactor. Sulfate reduction achieved 67 ± 22% in Phase II and COD removal was above 56% in Phases I and II. Removal of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm and Y was higher than 70% in both Phases II and III while Fe, Al, Si and Mn were removed with efficiencies of 79, 67, 48 and 25%, respectively. The results highlighted the potential use of DFSBR in the treatment of AMD, providing possibilities for simultaneous sulfate-reduction and metal and REY recovery in a single unit.

In this study we investigated the development of anaerobic biofilm using a laboratory reactor. We were especially interested in comparing the organization of anaerobic cells (particularly those that are very common in domestic sewage sludge) in a hydrophilic (glass) versus a hydrophobic (polypropylene) surface. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with domain and group specific probes directed against 16S ribosomal RNA were used to quantify microbial composition in the biofilm. FISH and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to elucidate spatial distribution of microbes in the biofilms. Two experiments were carried out, one with pure methanogenic organisms and the other with a microbial anaerobic consortium. The pure methanogen cultures, Methanobacterium formicicum (DSM 1535); Methanosaeta concilli (DSM 3671) and Methanosarcina barkeri (DSM 800) were used to seed the modified Robbins Device (MRD) to allow the development of biofilms on polypropylene and glass surfaces during the 9-days experiment. The results showed that all the three species were colonizing both surfaces after two and nine days of experimental period. In another experiment, with polypropylene coupons only, MRD was seeded with a microbial anaerobic consortium and biofilm formation was studied during 11 days. At the end of this period, the biofilms generated were of uneven thickness with areas of minimal or no surface coverage and areas where the biofilm attained a thickness of 7.0 to 9.0 μm as revealed by CLSM. The results showed that the modified Robbins Device together with the fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy are suitable tools to study anaerobic biofilm development in different kinds of support materials.

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize bacterial strains from bauxite residue in the southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical assays. Bacillus cohnii, Bacillus pseudofirmus, and Bacillus clarkii were identified among the isolates. The isolates were able to use a wide range of carbon sources and to grow at NaCl concentrations of up to 10%, temperatures from 10 to 40 °C, and pH from 7 to 10.5, producing a wide variety of organic acids. This is the first report on microbial composition of bauxite residue in Brazil.