Bioremediation of seleniferous water is gaining more momentum, especially when it comes to bacterial reduction of the selenium oxyanions. More and more bacterial strains that are able to reduce selenium are being isolated. These bacteria need to be studied further to determine whether they are suited for industrial application. In this study, the reduction of Se(VI) to Se(0) by Pseudomonas stutzeri NT-I was examined using batch experiments with the bacteria suspended in MSM. For the determination of the optimum conditions for the growth of the bacteria, the linearized rate during the exponential phase for different conditions were compared. A pH of 7, temperature of 37 ⁰C, salinity of 20 g.L-1 NaCl and initial concentration of 5 mM selenate were found to be the best at promoting growth. To determine the optimum conditions for the reduction of selenium, the amount of Se(0) recovered from the plug after 16 hours of incubation was measured. A pH of 8, temperature of 37 ⁰C and salinity of 5 g.L-1 resulted in the most Se(0) recovered. The kinetics of the reduction of Se(VI) to Se(0) was found to follow the adapted Monod equation. An increase in the initial Se(VI) concentration positively affected the reduction rate indicating that substrate saturation had not yet been reached. One kmax could be fitted to each of the two reactions but not one Ks. It was found that Ks decreased with increasing initial selenate concentration. Visually it can be deduced that inhibition starts playing a role in the reduction of selenate at a concentration of 4 mM. Pseudomonas stutzeri NT-I is an exemplary selenium reducing agent and deserves more attention, not only for industrial application but also in the research world, for further understanding of the complex mechanism behind metal reduction in bacteria. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Chemical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

Orientador: Wilson de Figueiredo Jardim / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T18:50:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Franco_DeboraVilela_D.pdf: 6112505 bytes, checksum: 9ffd8531fa2a0322c7b7d08e90de70fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: A redução química do cromo hexavalente, Cr(VI), presente em solo e água subterrânea contaminados, foi investigada empregando-se diferentes agentes redutores (batelada e semi-batelada) para avaliar a extensão da redução do Cr(VI) e da imobilização (precipitação) do cromo trivalente, Cr(III). O estudo comparativo envolvendo o uso de diferentes agentes redutores evidenciou que as espécies Fe(II) e FZVcol (nanopartículas estabilizadas com carboximetilcelulose) apresentaram os resultados mais promissores para a remoção do Cr(VI), visto que houve uma redução quantitativa desta espécie com sua concomitante imobilização. A aplicação do Fe(II) e FZVcol nas razões molares 1[Cr(VI)]:20[Fe(II)] e 1[Cr(VI)]:4[FZVcol] resultou na conversão redox superior a 98% e na imobilização das frações de Cr(VI) lábil e trocável. Foi verificado para o Fe(II), que o aumento da velocidade do fluxo volumétrico (G) resulta na diminuição do número de volume de poro para o tratamento do solo e da quantidade de Cr(VI) residual. O estudo hidrodinâmico teórico da coluna recheada com solo (meio poroso) permitiu mensurar o grau de dispersão do redutor na coluna frente ao modelo pistonado de escoamento em função de G mediante o cálculo do coeficiente de dispersão mássica volumétrico (kDV), o qual foi calculado a partir da modelagem da curva de saturação experimental. Foi verificado em todos os casos que a cinética do processo redox Cr(VI)/Cr(III) segue uma lei empírica de velocidade de pseudo-primeira ordem. A complexidade cinética do processo redox foi evidenciada pela dependência da constante de velocidade global de pseudo-primeira ordem (k*) com o tempo de reação, G e a concentração inicial do redutor. Um modelo cinético fenomenológico foi proposto para se obter uma expressão representativa de k* nas diferentes situações experimentais investigadas, bem como nos casos limites previstos. Um esquema reacional global foi proposto para representar os diferentes processos elementares envolvendo as espécies Cr(VI) e Cr(III) na matriz porosa (solo/água subterrânea). Um ensaio de tratamento em escala piloto foi realizado in situ tendo-se como balizadora as condições experimentais mais promissoras obtidas nos estudos realizados em escala laboratorial / Abstract: Chemical reduction of the hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), present in contaminated soil and groundwater was investigated using several different reductants (batch and semi-batch) in order to evaluate the extension of Cr(VI) reduction and the immobilization (precipitation) of trivalent chromium, Cr(III). A comparative study concerning the use of different reductants revealed that Fe(II) and ZVIcol (nanoparticles stabilized with carboximethylcellulose) present the most promising findings for the Cr(VI) removal, since it was found that a quantitative reduction of this specie is accompanied by its immobilization. Application of Fe(II) and ZVIcol using the 1[Cr(VI)]:20[Fe(II)] and 1[Cr(VI)]:4[ZVIcol] molar ratios resulted in a redox conversion degree higher than 98% and in the immobilization of the labile and the exchangeable Cr(VI) fractions. It was verified for Fe(II) that increasing the volumetric flow rate (G) both the pore volume necessary for the redox treatment and the residual Cr(VI) decrease. The theoretical hydrodynamic study concerning the packed column reactor containing soil (porous medium) permitted to evaluate the reductant dispersion degree inside the column in relation to the plug-flow model as functions of G by measuring the volumetric mass dispersion coefficient (kVD), which was calculated from simulation of the experimental saturation curve. In all cases, it was found the kinetics of the Cr(VI)/Cr(III) redox process follows a pseudo-first order rate law. The complexicity concerning the kinetic process was evidenced by the dependence of the overall pseudo-first order kinetic rate constant (k*) on reaction time, G and the initial concentration of the reductant. A phenomenological kinetic model was proposed in order to obtain a relation capable to represent k* for the different experimental conditions investigated, as well for the possible limit cases. An overall reaction scheme was proposed in order to describe the different elementary processes concerning the Cr(VI) and Cr(III) species, which take place inside the porous soil matrix (soil/groundwater). A pilot scale test was carried out in situ taking into account the best experimental scenario obtained in laboratory. / Doutorado / Quimica Analitica / Doutor em Ciencias Quimicas

Les gisements d’U de type discordance sont associés à des circulations de saumures chlorurées acides et caractérisés par des tonnages et concentrations exceptionnels ce qui amènent à s’interroger sur les processus de transport et de dépôt de l’U contribuant à leur genèse. Cette thèse est donc dédiée à des études expérimentales de la spéciation de l’U6+ et sa précipitation en UO2 par réduction en U4+ en condition hydrothermale. Concernant le transport de l’U, l’étude de la spéciation de l’U6+ dans ces fluides chlorurés (T ≤ 350°C) est réalisée par spectroscopie Raman et XAS. Les résultats montrant la coexistence de plusieurs complexes d’uranyle chlorurés UO2Cln2-n (n=0-5) dont certaines constantes de complexation sont proposées. Ainsi, la complexation de l’uranyle par les chlorures explique la forte capacité de transport en U6+ par les saumures chlorurées acides, condition nécessaire à la formation de gisements de fort tonnage. Pour le dépôt de l’U, les cinétiques de réduction de l’U6+ en U4+ par H2, CH4, Fe2+ et C-graphite sont mesurées et paramétrées en fonction de la température, de la chlorinité, du pH et de la concentration en réducteur. H2, CH4 et le C-graphite sont être très efficaces, contrairement au Fe2+. Le caractère mobile des gaz réducteurs explique en partie les minéralisations massives et focalisées observées dans ces gisements. Enfin des coefficients de partage UO2/fluide d’éléments en traces, dont certaines ETR, sont mesurés, ouvrant de nouvelles perspectives quant à (i) la compréhension de la signature des ETR caractéristiques de chaque type de gisement d’U, et (ii) la composition des fluides à l’origine des minéralisations uranifères / Circulations of acidic chloride brines are associated with unconformity-related uranium (URU) deposits. The spectacular high grade combined with the large tonnage of these deposits is at the origin of the key questions concerning the geological processes responsible for U transport and precipitation. The aim of this work is to performed experimental studies of U6+ speciation and its reduction to U4+ subsequently precipitation to UO2 under hydrothermal condition. About U transport, the study of U6+ speciation in acidic brines at high temperature is performed by Raman spectroscopy and XAS, showing the coexistence of several uranyl chloride complexes UO2Cln2-n (n=0-5). From this study, complexation constants are proposed. The strong capability of chloride to complex uranyl is at the origin of the transport of U6+ at high concentration in acidic chloride brines. Concerning U precipitation, the reactivity of four potential reductants under conditions relevant for URU deposits genesis is investigated: H2, CH4, Fe2+ and the C-graphite. The kinetics of reduction reaction is measured as a function of temperature, salinity, pH and concentration of reductant. H2, CH4, and the C-graphite are very efficient while Fe2+ is not able to reduce U6+ in same conditions. These mobile and efficient gaseous reductant could be at the origin of the extremely focus and massive character of ore in URU deposits. Finally, first partition coefficients UO2/fluid of trace elements are obtained. This last part opens-up new perspectives on (i) REE signatures interpretation for a given type of U deposit (ii) and reconstruction of mineralizing fluids composition