Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) possuem um papel importante na corrosão de ligas metálicas expostas em hábitats marinhos, óleos e solos úmidos. A redução do sulfato por estas bactérias resulta na produção de H2S, podendo influenciar os processos anódico e catódico na corrosão de materiais. Neste trabalho, o comportamento da corrosão microbiológica no aço carbono AISI 1020 foi avaliada em meio Postgate C, na presença e na ausência de BRS, as quais foram isoladas da camada de ferrugem presente numa tubulação submersa da Baía de Guanabara RJ. A taxa de corrosão e o comportamento eletroquímico do aço nas duas condições foram investigados através dos métodos de perda de massa e de polarização potenciodinâmica. A formação do biofilme e dos produtos de corrosão na superfície do aço foram observados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e por espectroscopia de energia dispersiva (EDS). Em complementação, foi realizada a quantificação das BRS (planctônicas e sésseis) pelo método do número mais provável (NMP). A presença de BRS no meio ocasionou o deslocamento do potencial de corrosão para valores mais negativos em todos os tempos de ensaio estudados, indicando um aumento no processo corrosivo. Nos ensaios de perda de massa, a taxa de corrosão do aço carbono foi maior na ausência de BRS, provavelmente devido à formação de um biofilme na superfície do metal nos ensaios com inóculo, e a uma menor tendência de haver corrosão generalizada neste tipo de meio. As micrografias de MEV revelaram a presença de agregado celular na superfície do aço carbono durante o experimento, e a presença de pites profundos após remoção do biofilme, mostrando prevalência deste tipo de corrosão. Com 35 dias de ensaio, a densidade de corrente de corrosão aumentou na presença de BRS / Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play an important role in the corrosion of alloys exposed in marine habitats, wet soils and oils. The sulfate reduction by these bacteria results in production of H2S, which may influence processes in the anodic and cathodic corrosion of materials. In this work, the behavior of microbial corrosion in carbon steel AISI 1020 was evaluated in Postgate C medium, in the presence and absence of SRB, which were isolated from a layer of rust on a pipeline submerged in Guanabara Bay - Rio de Janeiro. The corrosion rate and the electrochemical behavior of steel in the two conditions were investigated by weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization methods. Biofilm formation and corrosion products on the steel surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, the quantification of BRS (planktonic and sessile) was carried out by the most probable number method (MPN). The presence of SRB in the medium caused the shift of corrosion potential to more negative values in all experimental times studied, indicating an increase in corrosion. In the weight loss tests, the corrosion rate was higher in the absence of BRS, probably due to the formation of a biofilm on the metal surface in the tests with inoculum, and to a smaller trend of general corrosion with this kind of medium. SEM micrographies revealed the presence of cellular aggregates on the surface of mild steel during the experiment and the presence of deep pittings after the biofilm removal, showing that this kind of corrosion was prevalent . With 35 days of asseys, the corrosion current density increased in the presence of BRS

Ces travaux de thèse avaient pour objectifs (i) d’étudier le comportement du fer et du nickel au cours de la biominéralisation de sulfures de fer par des bactéries sulfato-réductrices et (ii) de tenter une première estimation de l’influence de l’exploitation minière sur les communautés microbiennes des sédiments de mangrove de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, des expériences d’incubation ont été conduites en anoxie avec une espèce unique de bactérie (thio)sulfato-réductrice (i.e. Desulfovibrio capillatus) et avec un consortium de bactéries sulfato-réductrices natives de sédiments de mangrove de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Ces expériences ont été réalisées avec différentes sources de Fe(III) (i.e. goethite, ferrihydrite et citrate-ferrique) et en présence de nickel structural ou en solution. Les résultats montrent que l’activité bactérienne sulfato-réductrice (qu’elle soit synergique ou issue d’une espèce unique) conduit, dans toutes les expériences, à la formation principale de mackinawite (FeS). Ce sulfure de fer précipite sous forme de cristallites nanométriques et dont la cristallinité augmente avec la durée d’incubation. Lorsque le nickel est présent en solution, la quasi-totalité de cet élément peut se substituer au fer (i.e. substitution 4% molaire) dans la structure de la mackinawite. Ainsi, la formation d’une faible proportion de mackinawite permet de fixer la quasi-totalité du nickel initialement en solution (e.g. ratio FeS:Ni de 1). Ce mécanisme semble stable sur le long terme (pas de relargage de nickel en solution) et il accélère la croissance cristalline de la mackinawite, ce qui engendre une stabilité accrue de ce minéral. Ces résultats soulignent le rôle efficace des bactéries sulfato-réductrices dans la formation des sulfures de fer de type mackinawite et dans le piégeage du nickel, suggérant une stabilisation de cet élément dans les sédiments de mangrove et la limitation de sa biodisponibilité. Ceci pourrait expliquer les résultats de l’étude comparative des consortiums bactériens autochtones qui ne permet pas de déceler d’impact de l’activité minière sur les communautés bactériennes sulfato-réductrices présentes en Nouvelle-Calédonie. / The aims of the present work were (i) to study the behavior of iron and nickel in the biomineralization of iron sulfides by (thio)sulfate-reducing bacteria and (ii) to estimate the influence of open-cut mining activities on microbial communities development in mangrove sediments in New Caledonia. To achieve these objectives, incubation experiments were conducted under anoxic conditions with the (thio)sulfate-reducing bacteria (i.e. Desulfovibrio capillatus) and a consortium of sulfate-reducing bacteria native mangrove sediments of New Caledonia. These experiments were carried out with different Fe(III) precursors (i.e. goethite, ferrihydrite and ferric citrate) and in the presence of structural or soluble nickel. The results show that the sulfate-reducing bacterial activity leads, in all experiments, to the formation of mackinawite (FeS). This iron sulfide precipitates as nanosized crystallites that increase in size with incubation time. When nickel is present in solution, the total soluble amount can be substituted to iron (i.e. replacing 4 mol%) in the structure of mackinawite. Thus, the formation of a small proportion of mackinawite scavenged total soluble amount of nickel initially present in solution (e.g. FeS:Ni ratio of 1). This sequestration mechanism appears to be stable over time (no nickel was released in solution) and accelerates the crystal growth of mackinawite, leading to the stabilization of this mineral. These results highlight the effective role of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the biomineralization of iron sulfides such as mackinawite and in the sequestration of nickel, suggesting a stabilization of this element in mangrove sediments and limitation of its bioavailability. These results could explain the absence of negative impact of open-cut mining activities on the sulfate-reducing bacterial communities present in New Caledonia.

The purpose of this study is to use vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VFCW) microcosm systems to investragte the removal efficiencies of sulfate. The system was located on the campus sewage treatment plant. nn National Sun Yat-sen University. In this study, two media, gravel and peat, were installed in four different systems. The two system with same media were separated into vegetated and non-vegetated (control) ones respectively. In the test runs, the operation methods included batch type filled with water, continuous flow and integrated vertical flow constructed wetland (IVCW) with continuous flow. In batch type test, it was run under an initial concentrations of SO42--S about 500 mg/L. The experimental results showed that the removal efficiencies were increased with increasing COD concentrations. Under the same conditions but with continuous flow operation, the removal efficiencies of SO42--S were lower than the batch type one, which 80% could be reached. The best system for operation was P1 (peat with vegetated), in which the removal effciency reached 90%. The experimental results also showed that the vegetated systems presented higher removal efficiencies of sulfate than the non-vegetated ones. In addition, this research were increased the concentrations of SO42--S and COD to about 1200 mg/L and 4000 mg/L respectively. The experimental results showed that the IVCW treatment system could achived greater efficiency than VFCW treatment system. The experimental in depth research test run indicated that the anaerobic condition did not affect the removal efficiencies of ammonia by using batch type. However, nitrification was the main reaction of ammonia to nitrate in the continuous flow type systems. When ORP values were found below the -300 mV, the sulfate began to be drcreased. It was believed that if the anaerobic condition were well be established, while the organic carbon could be contented in this system, the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) might live, and then sulfate could be removed. The effect of temperature on sulfate removal was generally established in this study. According to the experimental results, it was found that the activity of SRB motility was higher in higher temperature (35¢J) than that in lower temperature (25¢J).

Naturally occurring bacterial populations are capable of detoxifying chlorinated compounds and immobilizing the radionuclide uranium via reductive processes. This study addressed the following three knowledge gaps in the fields of chlorinated solvent and uranium bioremediation, 1) the risks and benefits of coupling bioremediation with thermal treatment for clean-up of chlorinated ethene-contaminated sites, 2) the accuracy of available techniques for the monitoring of chlorinated solvent bioremediation, and 3) the role of gram positive Desulfitobacterium spp. in uranium immobilization. Experiments demonstrated that thermal treatment increases electron donor availability, but the increased electron donor was not used to fuel reductive dechlorination and was actually consumed for methanogenesis. Two approaches for monitoring chlorinated solvent bioremediation were investigated, molecular techniques and compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Results demonstrated that while Dehalococcoides (Dhc) gene expression was up-regulated under conditions inhibitory to dechlorination, the isotope effects associated with dechlorination reactions catalayzed by Dhc populations in consortia and in pure cultures were similar. U(VI) reduction by multiple Desulfitobacterium isolates was demonstrated. Interestingly, while almost all U(VI)-reducing populations have been reported to produce uraninite (UO2), the product of U(VI) reduction by Desulfitobacterium isolates was a unique form of insoluble mononuclear U(IV).

Thesis (MSc., Geology) -- Queen's University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) possuem um papel importante na corrosão de ligas metálicas expostas em hábitats marinhos, óleos e solos úmidos. A redução do sulfato por estas bactérias resulta na produção de H2S, podendo influenciar os processos anódico e catódico na corrosão de materiais. Neste trabalho, o comportamento da corrosão microbiológica no aço carbono AISI 1020 foi avaliada em meio Postgate C, na presença e na ausência de BRS, as quais foram isoladas da camada de ferrugem presente numa tubulação submersa da Baía de Guanabara RJ. A taxa de corrosão e o comportamento eletroquímico do aço nas duas condições foram investigados através dos métodos de perda de massa e de polarização potenciodinâmica. A formação do biofilme e dos produtos de corrosão na superfície do aço foram observados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e por espectroscopia de energia dispersiva (EDS). Em complementação, foi realizada a quantificação das BRS (planctônicas e sésseis) pelo método do número mais provável (NMP). A presença de BRS no meio ocasionou o deslocamento do potencial de corrosão para valores mais negativos em todos os tempos de ensaio estudados, indicando um aumento no processo corrosivo. Nos ensaios de perda de massa, a taxa de corrosão do aço carbono foi maior na ausência de BRS, provavelmente devido à formação de um biofilme na superfície do metal nos ensaios com inóculo, e a uma menor tendência de haver corrosão generalizada neste tipo de meio. As micrografias de MEV revelaram a presença de agregado celular na superfície do aço carbono durante o experimento, e a presença de pites profundos após remoção do biofilme, mostrando prevalência deste tipo de corrosão. Com 35 dias de ensaio, a densidade de corrente de corrosão aumentou na presença de BRS / Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play an important role in the corrosion of alloys exposed in marine habitats, wet soils and oils. The sulfate reduction by these bacteria results in production of H2S, which may influence processes in the anodic and cathodic corrosion of materials. In this work, the behavior of microbial corrosion in carbon steel AISI 1020 was evaluated in Postgate C medium, in the presence and absence of SRB, which were isolated from a layer of rust on a pipeline submerged in Guanabara Bay - Rio de Janeiro. The corrosion rate and the electrochemical behavior of steel in the two conditions were investigated by weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization methods. Biofilm formation and corrosion products on the steel surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, the quantification of BRS (planktonic and sessile) was carried out by the most probable number method (MPN). The presence of SRB in the medium caused the shift of corrosion potential to more negative values in all experimental times studied, indicating an increase in corrosion. In the weight loss tests, the corrosion rate was higher in the absence of BRS, probably due to the formation of a biofilm on the metal surface in the tests with inoculum, and to a smaller trend of general corrosion with this kind of medium. SEM micrographies revealed the presence of cellular aggregates on the surface of mild steel during the experiment and the presence of deep pittings after the biofilm removal, showing that this kind of corrosion was prevalent . With 35 days of asseys, the corrosion current density increased in the presence of BRS

Une grande quantité des eaux usées, particulièrement celles provenant de l'industrie minière, des fermentations et du traitement des aliments, contiennent-elles des concentrations élevées de sulfate (SO42-). SO42- réduction est une problématique sérieuse au niveau environnemental sous conditions qui ne sont pas contrôlées, cette problématique peut résulter en la libération de sulfure toxique vers l'environnement. Les caractéristiques typiques des eaux usées riches en SO42- sont 0.4-20.8 g SO42-.L-1, faible pH, élevé potentiel oxydatif, faible o négligeable demande chimique d'oxygène (DCO) et hautes concentrations de métaux lourds (drainage minier acide) que peuvent drastiquement endommager la flore et la faune des masses d'eau. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'étudier l'effet du donneur d'électrons sur le processus biologique RS par des bactéries réductrices de sulfate dans des bioréacteurs. Le processus biologique RS a été étudié à l'aide de polymères à base d'hydrate de carbone (PBHC) et biodéchets lignocellulosiques (L) comme des donneurs de libération lente d'électrons (PBCH-DLLE et L-DLLE, respectivement) dans des bioréacteurs discontinus et des bioréacteurs fonctionnant en continu inverse à lit fluidisé (ILF). Les ILF ont été rigoureusement testé pour RS sous haute vitesse et (alimentation-pénurie de nourriture) des conditions d'alimentation transitoires. Dans une autre configuration du bioréacteur, un bioréacteur séquentiel, l'effet de la concentration initiale SO42- sur le démarrage du réacteur a été étudié. Par ailleurs, l'effet de la concentration initiale du donneur d'électrons, NH4+ et SO42- ont été évalués dans des bioréacteurs de traitement par lots aussi bien. La robustesse et la résilience de RS a été démontrée dans les ILF en utilisant le lactate comme donneur d'électrons, dans lequel l'efficacité d'élimination de SO42- (EES) était comparable dans la période d’alimentation (67 ± 15%) de ILF2 aux conditions d'alimentation stables (71 ± 4%) dans même ILF2 et ILF1, le réacteur de commande (61 ± 15%). De la modélisation des réseaux de neurones artificiels et de l'analyse de sensibilité des données de fonctionnement de ILF2, il était prévu que les concentrations de SO42- influents ont affecté le rendement d'élimination de la DCO, la production de sulfure et des changements de pH. Dans un autre ILF3 à un rapport DCO:SO42- de 2.3, RS dans des conditions de taux élevés (CTE = 0.125 d) était 4,866 mg SO42- L-1 d-1 et un EES de 79% a été remporté. Par ailleurs, le second ordre Grau et les modèles d'enlèvement de substrat Stover-Kincannon équipés de la performance du réacteur à haut débit avec r2 > 0.96. Le rapport DCO:SO42- était le principal facteur affectant la RS. Dans des bioréacteurs par lots, en utilisant du papier filtre PBCH-DLLE, la RS a été réalisée à EES > 98%. Avec l'utilisation de scourer comme L-DLLE, un EES de 95% a été remporté. Cependant, lorsque la lavette est utilisée comme matériau de support de L-DLLE dans un ILF4, le RS a montré 38% (± 14) de EES entre 10-33 d de fonctionnement. La SR était limitée par le taux d'hydrolyse-fermentation et, par conséquent, la complexité de la DLLE. L'utilisation du donneur d'électrons pour le processus RS a simultanément amélioré aux concentrations de donneurs d'électrons initial décroissants / Many industrial wastewaters, particularly from the mining, fermentation and food processing industry contain high sulphate (SO42-) concentrations. SO42- reduction (SR) is a serious environmental problem under non-controlled conditions, which can result in the release of toxic sulphide to the environment. Typical characteristics of SO42--rich wastewater are 0.4-20.8 g SO42-.L-1, low pH, high oxidative potential, low or negligible chemical oxygen demand (COD) and high heavy metals concentrations (acid mine drainage), that can dramatically damage the flora and fauna of water bodies. The aim of this PhD is to study the effect of electron donor supply on the biological SR process by sulphate reducing bacteria in bioreactors. The biological SR process was studied using carbohydrate based polymers (CBP) and lignocelulosic biowaste (L) as slow release electron donors (CBP-SRED and L-SRED, respectively) in batch bioreactors and continuously operated inverse fluidized bed bioreactors (IFBB). IFBB were vigorously tested for SR under high rate and transient (feast-famine) feeding conditions. In another bioreactor configuration, a sequencing batch bioreactor, the effect of the initial SO42- concentration on the reactor start-up was investigated. Besides, the effect of the initial concentration of electron donor, NH4+, and SO42- were evaluated in batch bioreactors as well. The robustness and resilience of SR was demonstrated in IFBB using lactate as the electron donor wherein the SO42- removal efficiency (SRE) was comparable in the feast period (67 ± 15%) of IFBB2 to steady feeding conditions (71 ± 4%) in the same IFBB2 and to IFBB1, the control reactor (61 ± 15%). From artificial neural network modeling and sensitivity analysis of data of IFBB2 operation, it was envisaged that the influent SO42- concentrations affected the COD removal efficiency, the sulphide production and pH changes. In another IFBB3 at a COD:SO42- ratio of 2.3, SR under high rate conditions (HRT=0.125 d) was 4,866 mg SO42-. L-1 d-1 and a SRE of 79% was achieved. Besides, the Grau second order and the Stover-Kincannon substrate removal models fitted the high rate reactor performance with r2 > 0.96. The COD:SO42- ratio was the major factor affecting the SR. In batch bioreactors, using filter paper as CBP-SRED, SR was carried out at > 98% SRE. Using scourer as L-SRED, a 95% SRE was achieved. However, when the scourer was used as the L-SRED carrier material in an IFBB4, the SR showed 38 (± 14) % SRE between 10-33 d of operation. The SR was limited by the hydrolysis-fermentation rate and, therefore, the complexity of the SRED. Concerning sequencing batch bioreactor operation, the SR process was affected by the initial SO42- concentration (2.5 g SO42-.L-1) during the start-up. The sequencing batch bioreactor performing at low SRE (< 70%) lead to propionate accumulation, however, acetate was the major end product when SRE was > 90%. In batch bioreactors, the NH4+ feast or famine conditions affected the SR rates with only 4% and the electron donor uptake was 16.6% greater under NH4+ feast conditions. The electron donor utilization via the SR process improved simultaneously to the decreasing initial electron donor concentrations. This PhD research demonstrated that the SR process is robust to transient and high rate feeding conditions. Moreover, SR was mainly affected by the approach how electron donor is supplied, e.g. as SRED or as easy available electron donor, independently of the COD:SO42- ratio. Besides, the electron donor and SO42- utilization were affected by the lack or presence of nutrients like NH4+

No description available.

Stormwater retention basins are an integral component of municipal stormwater management strategies in North America. The province of Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change obligates land developers to implement stormwater management in their land use and development plans to mitigate the effects of urbanization (Bradford and Gharabaghi, 2004). When stormwater retention ponds are improperly designed or maintained, these basins can fail at improving effluent water quality and may exasperate water quality issues. Intense H2S production events in stormwater infrastructure is a serious problem which is seldom encountered and documented in stormwater retention ponds. This study monitored two stormwater retention ponds situated in the Riverside South community, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for a period of 15 consecutive months to thoroughly characterize intense hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production in a stormwater retention pond under ice covered conditions during winter operation and during periods of drought under non-ice covered conditions during the summer. Field experiments showed a strong relationship (p < 0.006, R > 0.58, n = 20+) between hypoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration < 2 mg/L) and the intense production of H2S gas. Ice-capping of the stormwater ponds during winter severely hindered reaeration of the pond and led to significant production of total sulfides in the Riverside South Pond #2 (RSP2), which subsequently resulted in the accumulation of total sulfides in the water column (20.7 mg/L) during winter in this pond. There was a perceived lag phase between the drop in DO and the increase in total sulfides near the surface, which was potentially indicative of slow movement of total sulfides from the benthic sediment into the water column. These high-sulfide conditions persisted in RSP2 from early January 2015 until the spring thaw, in mid-April, 2015. Riverside South Pond #1 (RSP1), the reference pond studied in this work, showed significantly less production of total sulfides across a significantly shorter period of time. Analysis of the microbial communities showed that there was little change in the dominant bacterial populations present in the benthic sediment of the pond demonstrating significant total sulfide production (RSP2) and the pond that did not demonstrate significant total sulfide production (RSP1). Additionally, it was found that locations with the most accumulated sediment had the highest propensity for the production of H2S gas. Furthermore, there was no perceivable community shift in the two ponds throughout the seasons, indicating that the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in stormwater benthic sediment are ubiquitous, exist in an acclimatized microbial population and are robust. Study of the microbial abundances revealed that SRB represented approximately 5.01 ± 0.79 % of the microbes present in the benthic sediment of RSP2. Likewise, in the stormwater pond which did not experience intense H2S gas production, RSP1, 6.22 ± 2.11 % of microbes were of the SRB type, demonstrating that H2S gas production does not correspond to higher concentrations of SRB or the proliferation of dominant species, but rather is a symptom of increased bacterial activity due to favourable environmental conditions. In addition, this work also covers the kinetics of sediment oxygen demand (SOD), ammonification and sulfate-reduction, and attempts to understand the processes leading to H2S gas production events. In doing so, it was observed that kinetics obtained full-scale field studies were greater than in laboratory kinetic experiments. Laboratory experiments at 4°C identified total SOD, ammonification and sulfate-reduction kinetics to be 0.023 g/m2/day, 0.027 g N/m2/day and 0.004 g S/m2/day, respectively. Meanwhile, kinetics calculated from the field study of stormwater retention ponds for total SOD, ammonification and sulfate-reduction were of 0.491 g/m2/day, 0.120 g N/m2/day and 0.147 g S/m2/day, respectively. It is expected that this difference is due to the depth of active sediment influencing the total rates of production/consumption, making area-normalized daily rates of production/consumption (g/m2/day) unsuitable for the comparison of field and laboratory studies, without some scaling factor. This study also measured supplementary kinetic parameters such as the Arrhenius coefficients and the half-saturation coefficient, to add to existing knowledge of sulfate-reduction.

Orientador: Ana Julia Fernandes / Resumo: Atividades portuárias são consideradas fontes de contaminação por metais, que em altas concentrações são tóxicos aos microrganismos, podendo mudar o tamanho, a composição e a atividade da comunidade microbiana. Essa pressão seletiva faz com que bactérias desenvolvam mecanismos para combater o estresse causado por eles. Diversos grupos de microrganismos que desenvolvem sistemas de tolerância a metais podem fazer sua biorremediação. Bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) podem, devido ao seu metabolismo, precipitar metais facilitando sua remoção. A hipótese é que em áreas portuárias exista uma alteração na comunidade microbiana onde são favorecidos microrganismos resistentes, aumentando a chance do isolamento de bactérias resistentes com potencial biotecnológico. Portanto o objetivo dessa tese foi avaliar a influência da contaminação de metais na comunidade microbiana em áreas portuárias e na seleção de cepas resistentes, e isolar cepas de BRS com potencial biotecnológico. Para isso, foram coletados sedimentos de 2 áreas portuárias (Santos e São Sebastião) e uma área pristina (Ubatuba). Foram caracterizadas variáveis ambientais do sedimento (como pH, salinidade, temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido, porcentagem de matéria orgânica, concentrações de Cr, Cu, Cd e Zn). Foi extraído DNA total do sedimento para caracterização da comunidade utilizando sequenciamento Mi-Seq. Os sedimentos serviram como inóculo para isolamento de cepas que foram submetidas a testes de resistência aos metais.... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Port activities are considered sources of metal contamination, which in high concentrations are toxic to microorganisms, and can change the size, composition and activity of the microbial community. This selective pressure forces bacteria to develop resistance mechanisms. Several microorganisms groups that develop metal tolerance systems can perform their bioremediation. One example is Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Because of their metabolism, this group can precipitate metals facilitating their removal. In this way, the hypothesis is that in port areas there is a change in the microbial community where resistant microorganisms are favored, increasing the chance of isolation of resistant bacteria with biotechnological potential. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was evaluate the influence of metal contamination in the microbial community in port areas and in the selection of resistant strains, and to isolate strains of SRB with biotechnological potential. For this, sediments were collected from two port areas (Santos and São Sebastião) and one pristine area (Ubatuba). Sediment environmental variables were characterized (such as pH, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, percentage of organic matter, concentrations of Cr, Cu, Cd and Zn). Total DNA was extracted from the sediment for community characterization using Mi-Seq sequencing. The sediments was used as inoculum for strain isolation, and the metal resistance was checked. The most contaminated sediments also wa... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor