Characterization of the biological sulfide oxidation process: in-situ pulse respirometry and ex-situ pulse microrespirometry approach

During the optimization of environmental biotechnology processes, it is important to count on proper and reliable information about kinetic stoichiometric parameters microorganisms. In this work, biological sulfide oxidation process was assessed under two novel dynamic pulse respirometric approaches: in-situ respirometry conducted in airlift bioreactor ex-situ carried out microreactors (microrespirometry) with samples taken from bioreactor. The characterized terms growth yield, substrate maximum oxygen uptake rate, affinity constant, mass transfer coefficient. showed be a reproducible technique that allowed determination besides detection limitations bioreactor, however, its use limited few experiments experimental conditions significant time investment. On other hand, microrespirometry acquisition higher amount broader range concentrations (from 5 60 mg H2S L-1) such as different pH values. results obtained would preferable over for characterization process.