Effect of N/S ratio on anoxic thiosulfate oxidation in a fluidized bed reactor: Experimental and artificial neural network model analysis

Anoxic thiosulfate (S2O32-) oxidation using autotrophic denitrification by a mixed culture of nitrate reducing, sulfur oxidizing bacteria (NR-SOB) was studied in a fluidized bed reactor (FBR). The long-term performance of the FBR was evaluated for 306 days at three nitrogen-to-sulfur (N/S) molar ratios (0.5, 0.3 and 0.1) and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 5 h. S2O32- removal efficiencies > 99% were obtained at a N/S ratio of 0.5 and a S2O32- and nitrate (NO3-) loading rate of 820 (+/- 84) mg S-S2O32- L-1 d(-1) and 173 (+/- 10) mg N-NO3- L-1 d(-1), respectively. The S2O32- removal efficiency decreased to 76% and 26% at N/S ratios of 0.3 and 0.1, respectively, and recovered to 80% within 3 days after increasing the N/S ratio from 0.1 back to 0.5. The highest observed half-saturation (K-s) and inhibition (K-I) constants of the biofilm-grown NR-SOB obtained from batch cultivations were 172 and 800 mg S-S2O32- L-1, respectively. Thiobacilus denitrificans was the dominant microorganism in the FBR Artificial neural network modeling successfully predicted S2O32- and NO3- removal efficiencies and S2O32- production in the FBR. Additionally, results from the sensitivity analysis showed that the effluent pH was the most influential parameter affecting the S2O32- removal efficiency.