Durante a exploração de petróleo offshore (fora da costa), a injeção de água do mar no processo de recuperação secundária de petróleo, ocasiona a produção de sulfeto de hidrogênio (H2S) pela presença das bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS), que reduzem o sulfato presente na água em sulfeto. A produção intensiva de H2S tem sido um dos maiores problemas das indústrias petrolíferas, pois constitui-se uma das principais causas de corrosão em linhas de produção (tubulações), equipamentos e tanques metálicos. Os principais micro-organismos presentes em amostras salinas provenientes de tanques de armazenamento de água e óleo da indústria do petróleo são as bactérias anaeróbias heterotróficas totais (BANHT) e as bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS). Atualmente, a quantificação desses grupos microbianos é realizada através da técnica do Número Mais Provável (NMP) que estima o resultado em aproximadamente 28 dias. Neste trabalho foi utilizada a metodologia de produção semi-contínua de sulfetos biogênicos por 15 dias, numa tentativa de correlacionar com os resultados de quantificação de BANHT e BRS através da técnica convencional do NMP. Nesse caso, avaliou-se as condições mais adequadas para a produção biogênica de sulfetos em tanques, alterando-se parâmetros tais como salinidade, temperatura e composição do meio de cultura. Verificou-se que os aumentos da salinidade e da temperatura do meio implicaram na diminuição da atividade biogênica semi-contínua de geração de sulfetos. E conforme dilui-se o meio de cultura, o crescimento de bactérias foi reduzido, assim como a geração de sulfetos. A quantificação de BRS e BANHT foi avaliada pela técnica do NMP de acordo com o método do FDA em 2011 e de Harrigan em 1998. Este último subestima a população microbiana, desconsiderando os limites e erros provenientes da técnica / During off-shore oil recovery, seawater injection for secondary oil recovery, produces hydrogen sulphide (H2S), due to the presence of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), that reduces sulphate from seawater to sulphide. The massive production of H2S is presently one of the main problems in the petroleum industries, constituting one of the main causes of corrosion in production lines (dutes), equipments and tanks. The main microbial species found in this type of saline samples comes from water and oil storage tanks in the petroleum industry, being general anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria (GAHB) and sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB). Presently, the quantification of those microbial groups is made through a technique known as Most Probable Number (MPN). This quantification is obtained in around 28 days. In the present work a methodology based on the semi-continuous production of sulphide during 15 days was conducted, in an attempt to correlate these results with the quantification of GAHB and SRB cells through conventional MPN technique. In this case, the most suitable conditions for biogenic sulphide production in tanks, was studied through the evaluation of environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature and culture medium composition. It could be observed that an increase in salinity and temperature of the medium produced a marked decrease in the semi-continuous biogenic production of sulphide. In relation to the culture medium, its dilution promoted a decreased in cell growth, consequently in the production of sulphides. The quantification of SRB and GAHB was evaluated through the MPN technique, according to procedures suggested by FDA in 2011 and Harrigan in 1998. It was observed that this last procedure underestimated the microbial population, due to the lack of information about limits and standard deviations

Biological sulphate reduction (BSR) has been identified as a promising alternative technology for the treatment of acid mine drainage. BSR is a process that uses sulphate reducing bacteria to reduce sulphate to sulphide using substrates as nutrients under anaerobic conditions. The performance of BSR is dependent on several factors including substrate, pH, temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT). In a quest to find a cost effective technology, Mintek conducted bench-scale tests on BSR that led to the commissioning of a pilot plant at a coal mine in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. This current study forms part of the ongoing tests that are conducted to improve Mintek’s process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the robustness of Mintek’s process and to develop a tool that can be used to predict the process’ performance with varying pH, temperature and HRT. Design Expert version 11.1.2.0 was used to design the experiments using the Box-Behnken design. In the design, pH ranged from 4 to 6, temperature from 10 °C to 30 °C and HRT from 2 d to 7 d with sulphate reduction efficiency, sulphate reduction rate and sulphide production as response variables. Experiments were carried out in water jacketed packed bed reactors that were operated in a down-flow mode. The reactors were packed with woodchips, wood shaving, hay, lucerne straw and cow manure as support for sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) biofilm. Cow manure and lucerne pellets were used as the main substrates and they were replenished once a week. These reactors mimicked the pilot plant. The data obtained were statistically analysed using response surface methodology. The results showed that pH did not have a significant impact on the responses (p>0.05). Temperature and HRT, on the other hand, greatly impacted the process (p<0.05) and the interaction between these two factors was found to be strong. Sulphate reduction efficiency and sulphate reduction rate decreased by over 60 % with a decrease in temperature 30 °C to 10 °C. Generally, a decrease in sulphide production was observed with a decrease in temperature. Overall, a decrease in HRT resulted in a decline of sulphate reduction efficiency and sulphide production but favoured sulphate reduction rate. This study demonstrated that Mintek’s process can be operated at pH as low as 4 without any significant impact on the performance. This decreases the lime requirements and sludge production during the pre-neutralisation stage by close to 50 %. There was, however, a strong interaction between temperature and HRT which can be used to improve the performance especially during the winter season. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Chemical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

Le mercure est un polluant ubiquiste dont les espèces organiques, telles que le méthylmercure (MMHg), s'accumulent dans la chaîne trophique et sont fortement toxiques pour les organismes vivants. Des microorganismes anaérobies sont capables de transformer le mercure inorganique en MMHg, et inversement, par des processus qui n’ont pas été complètement établis. Cette étude vise à mieux comprendre les transformations du mercure chez des bactéries sulfato-réductrices modèles : D. dechloracetivorans BerOc1, capable de méthyler et déméthyler le mercure, et D. desulfuricans G200, utilisé ici comme témoin non méthylant. Les objectifs de cette étude sont donc de déterminer où ont lieu les processus de méthylation et déméthylation du mercure à l’échelle cellulaire ainsi que d’identifier les ligands du mercure impliqués dans ces processus. Dans un premier temps, la toxicité du mercure inorganique (IHg) et du MMHg a été évaluée sur la croissance des deux souches. Les potentiels de méthylation et de déméthylation, la localisation du mercure et ses ligands ont été déterminés au niveau de la culture et à l’échelle cellulaire. Ces paramètres ont été évalués à différentes concentrations de mercure ainsi qu’au cours d’une cinétique. Ce travail de thèse a mis en avant que IHg et MMHg ont moins d’impact sur la croissance des deux souches étudiées en sulfato-réduction du fait de la forte précipitation du mercure. Une ou des étapes limitantes interviendraient dans le processus de méthylation. De plus, une différence de localisation cellulaire du mercure a été constatée au cours du temps, suggérant un export de ce dernier, et selon la souche bactérienne suggérant des mécanismes cellulaires différents. L’imagerie par TEM EDX et l’analyse élémentaire par nano-fluorescence X ont permis d’observer la co-localisation du mercure avec le soufre. L‘étude de la spéciation par HR XANES a confirmé la prédominance de ligands thiols associés aux processus de méthylation et de déméthylation. Une forme tétragonale est prédominante dans les échantillons exposés à HgCl2 en croissance suggérant que cette espèce est formée via un processus biologique. / Mercury is a wide spread pollutant that build up in living tissues. The transformation of mercury into methylmercury is primarily a natural and biological process mediated by anaerobic bacteria. Understanding the parameters influencing the formation of methylmercury is critically important due to its highly toxic, bioaccumulative and persistent nature. Herein we aim to study the mechanism by which model strains used in laboratories can transform inorganic and methylmercury. The objectives of this study are determining where mercury methylation and demethylation processes take place at the cell scale and identifying the mercury ligands involved in these processes. At first, the toxicity of inorganic mercury (IHg) and MMHg were measured on the bacterial growth. The methylation and demethylation potentials, the localization of mercury and its ligands were determined in the culture and at the cell scale. These parameters were evaluated at different concentrations of mercury as well as during kinetic. This study has highlighted that IHg and MMHg have less impact on the growth of both strains in sulfate reduction because of the high precipitation of mercury. One or more limiting steps would occur in the methylation process. In addition, a difference in cell localization of mercury has been observed over time, suggesting an export at 24h of exposure. Mercury localization also depends on the bacterial strain suggesting different cell mechanisms. TEM EDX imaging and elemental analysis by X-ray nano-fluorescence showed mercury co-localized with sulfur. The study of HR XANES speciation confirmed the predominance of thiol ligands associated with methylation and demethylation processes. A tetragonal form is predominant in samples exposed to growing HgCl2 suggesting that this species is formed via a biological process.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a interferência da sulfetogênese sobre a produção de metano em reator anaeróbio de leito fixo ordenado tratando água residuária orgânica contendo sulfato. A escolha dessa configuração de reator foi devida à possibilidade de manutenção de uma área transversal de escoamento na zona reacional, o que minimiza diversos problemas oriundos da colmatação do leito por acúmulo de polímeros extracelulares e sólidos suspensos nos interstícios do material suporte. Foram utilizados dois sistemas em paralelo com as mesmas características operacionais e alimentados com água residuária sintética simulando alguns componentes da fração solúvel da vinhaça, e matéria orgânica constituída por uma mistura de sacarose, etanol e fenol. Um dos reatores recebeu adição de sulfato apenas como fonte de enxofre requerido pela digestão anaeróbia e o outro recebeu dosagem de sulfato para relações DQO/Sulfato de 3 a 5. O estudo se estendeu por 7 fases operacionais distintas. A concentração afluente de matéria orgânica variou de 800 para 1000, 2000 e 4000 mg.L-1. O tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) foi de 24 h. Na última fase operacional (com carga orgânica aplicada de 4 g.L-1.dia-1) as eficiências de remoção de matéria orgânica chegaram a cerca de 97% no reator metanogênico e de 96% no reator sulfetogênico. Este último também obteve eficiências de remoção de sulfato da ordem de 97% nessa fase (com relação DQO/Sulfato de 3 e concentração afluente de sulfato de 1300 mg.L-1), chegando ao máximo de 99% de remoção em alguns dias de operação. No sistema sulfetogênico a relação DQO/Sulfato que proporcionou maiores eficiências de remoção combinada de matéria orgânica e sulfato, com maior geração de alcalinidade, foi de 3 gDQO/gSO42-. Os reatores metanogênico e sulfetogênico apresentaram rendimentos de metano próximos ao longo do tempo, tendo o sistema sulfetogênico apresentado rendimento de metano superior ao alcançado pelo sistema metanogênico em alguns dias da operação. Na última fase os rendimentos médios de metano obtidos foram, nas CNTP, da ordem de 320 mLCH4/gDQOremovida no reator sulfetogênico, e da ordem de 315 mLCH4/gDQOremovida no reator metanogênico. Esses resultados não indicaram inibição significativa da atividade metanogênica sob as condições impostas no sistema sulfetogênico, viabilizando a recuperação de energia pelo aproveitamento do metano. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the interference of sulphidogenesis on methane production in structured bed anaerobic reactor treating organic wastewater containing sulphate. Choosing this setting reactor was due to the possibility of maintaining a crosssectional area of flow in the reaction zone, which minimizes several problems caused by the clogging of the bed by accumulation of extracellular polymers and suspended solid in the interstices of support material. Two parallel systems were used with the same operational features and fed with synthetic wastewater simulating some compounds of the soluble fraction of vinasse, and organic matter constituted by a mixture of sucrose, ethanol and phenol. One reactor received sulphate just as a source of sulfur required for anaerobic digestion and another one received sulphate dosage for COD/Sulphate ratios from 3 to 5. Seven distinct operational phases were tested. The influent concentration of organic matter ranged from 800 to 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg.L-1. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 24 h. In the last step (with organic loading rate of 4 g.L-1.day-1) the efficiencies of organic matter removal were around 97% in the methanogenic reactor and 96% in sulfidogenic reactor. The last one also achieved efficiencies of sulphate removal close to 97% in this phase (COD/Sulphate ratio of 3 and influent sulphate concentration of 1300 mg.L-1), reaching a maximum removal of 99% in some operational days. The COD/Sulphate ratio in sulfidogenic system that showed higher efficiencies of combined removal of organic matter and sulphate, with higher generation of alkalinity, was 3 gCOD/gSO42-. The methanogenic and sulfidogenic reactors showed similar values of methane yield, having the sulfidogenic system presented higher methane yield than achieved by methanogenic system at some operational days. In the last phase the average yields of methane obtained, at NTP, were around 320 mLCH4/gCODremoved in the sulfidogenic reactor, and around 315 mLCH4/gCODremoved in the methanogenic reactor. These results indicated no significant inhibition of methanogenic activity under the conditions imposed in sulfidogenic system, enabling energy recovery by use of produced methane.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a interferência da sulfetogênese sobre a produção de metano em reator anaeróbio de leito fixo ordenado tratando água residuária orgânica contendo sulfato. A escolha dessa configuração de reator foi devida à possibilidade de manutenção de uma área transversal de escoamento na zona reacional, o que minimiza diversos problemas oriundos da colmatação do leito por acúmulo de polímeros extracelulares e sólidos suspensos nos interstícios do material suporte. Foram utilizados dois sistemas em paralelo com as mesmas características operacionais e alimentados com água residuária sintética simulando alguns componentes da fração solúvel da vinhaça, e matéria orgânica constituída por uma mistura de sacarose, etanol e fenol. Um dos reatores recebeu adição de sulfato apenas como fonte de enxofre requerido pela digestão anaeróbia e o outro recebeu dosagem de sulfato para relações DQO/Sulfato de 3 a 5. O estudo se estendeu por 7 fases operacionais distintas. A concentração afluente de matéria orgânica variou de 800 para 1000, 2000 e 4000 mg.L-1. O tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) foi de 24 h. Na última fase operacional (com carga orgânica aplicada de 4 g.L-1.dia-1) as eficiências de remoção de matéria orgânica chegaram a cerca de 97% no reator metanogênico e de 96% no reator sulfetogênico. Este último também obteve eficiências de remoção de sulfato da ordem de 97% nessa fase (com relação DQO/Sulfato de 3 e concentração afluente de sulfato de 1300 mg.L-1), chegando ao máximo de 99% de remoção em alguns dias de operação. No sistema sulfetogênico a relação DQO/Sulfato que proporcionou maiores eficiências de remoção combinada de matéria orgânica e sulfato, com maior geração de alcalinidade, foi de 3 gDQO/gSO42-. Os reatores metanogênico e sulfetogênico apresentaram rendimentos de metano próximos ao longo do tempo, tendo o sistema sulfetogênico apresentado rendimento de metano superior ao alcançado pelo sistema metanogênico em alguns dias da operação. Na última fase os rendimentos médios de metano obtidos foram, nas CNTP, da ordem de 320 mLCH4/gDQOremovida no reator sulfetogênico, e da ordem de 315 mLCH4/gDQOremovida no reator metanogênico. Esses resultados não indicaram inibição significativa da atividade metanogênica sob as condições impostas no sistema sulfetogênico, viabilizando a recuperação de energia pelo aproveitamento do metano. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the interference of sulphidogenesis on methane production in structured bed anaerobic reactor treating organic wastewater containing sulphate. Choosing this setting reactor was due to the possibility of maintaining a crosssectional area of flow in the reaction zone, which minimizes several problems caused by the clogging of the bed by accumulation of extracellular polymers and suspended solid in the interstices of support material. Two parallel systems were used with the same operational features and fed with synthetic wastewater simulating some compounds of the soluble fraction of vinasse, and organic matter constituted by a mixture of sucrose, ethanol and phenol. One reactor received sulphate just as a source of sulfur required for anaerobic digestion and another one received sulphate dosage for COD/Sulphate ratios from 3 to 5. Seven distinct operational phases were tested. The influent concentration of organic matter ranged from 800 to 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg.L-1. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 24 h. In the last step (with organic loading rate of 4 g.L-1.day-1) the efficiencies of organic matter removal were around 97% in the methanogenic reactor and 96% in sulfidogenic reactor. The last one also achieved efficiencies of sulphate removal close to 97% in this phase (COD/Sulphate ratio of 3 and influent sulphate concentration of 1300 mg.L-1), reaching a maximum removal of 99% in some operational days. The COD/Sulphate ratio in sulfidogenic system that showed higher efficiencies of combined removal of organic matter and sulphate, with higher generation of alkalinity, was 3 gCOD/gSO42-. The methanogenic and sulfidogenic reactors showed similar values of methane yield, having the sulfidogenic system presented higher methane yield than achieved by methanogenic system at some operational days. In the last phase the average yields of methane obtained, at NTP, were around 320 mLCH4/gCODremoved in the sulfidogenic reactor, and around 315 mLCH4/gCODremoved in the methanogenic reactor. These results indicated no significant inhibition of methanogenic activity under the conditions imposed in sulfidogenic system, enabling energy recovery by use of produced methane.

Submitted by Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia (mebiotec.ufba@gmail.com) on 2017-04-05T12:59:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Final - Diego Montes.pdf: 3792184 bytes, checksum: 932c7d285674a48aa5a90cb88c53dd85 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Delba Rosa (delba@ufba.br) on 2017-07-03T15:41:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Final - Diego Montes.pdf: 3792184 bytes, checksum: 932c7d285674a48aa5a90cb88c53dd85 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-03T15:41:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Final - Diego Montes.pdf: 3792184 bytes, checksum: 932c7d285674a48aa5a90cb88c53dd85 (MD5) / CAPES / As Bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) são de enorme importância do ponto de vista industrial e ambiental. O sulfeto produzido pelas BRS constitui um grande problema para o setor petrolífero por causar da biocorrosão nas instalações e por ser tóxico ao ser humano. O monitoramento dessas bactérias é realizado com frequência a fim de qualificar o tratamento para prevenir a produção de sulfeto. O tratamento comumente utilizado é a injeção de biocidas cuja utilização deve ser proporcional a densidade de BRS a fim de minimizar danos econômicos e ambientais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de desenvolver um método indireto, baseado no consumo de aceptores de elétrons (sulfato) para monitorar populações de BRS. A metodologia consistiu, a princípio, no desenvolvimento de um método de análise por cromatográfia de íons que, além do sulfato e nitrato, pode também separar outros 15 ânions como: tungstato, sulfeto, fosfato, molibdato, oxalato, nitrito, cloreto, piruvato, butirato, propionato, acetato, fluoreto, formiato, succinato e citrato. O método de avaliação foi testado para se ajustar aos padrões regidos pelo INMETRO e ANVISA (órgãos brasileiros de regulamentação). Adicionalmente foi realizada a adaptação de um método espectrofotométrico para determinação de sulfato para assim auxiliar o processo cromatográfico. O tempo de corrida no cromatografo foi de 45 minutos que foi inferior ao método fornecido pelo fabricante e com um LD de 574,2 e 127,1 μg L-1 para sulfato e nitrato, respectivamente. As análises espectrofotométricas foram eficientes para medir sulfato e nitrato entre o intervalo de 40 e 200 mg L-1. A associação da cinética microbiana de crescimento e consumo de sulfato foi realizada em cultura pura de BRS e em cultura mista de amostras ambientais. Para testes com cultura pura foi utilizada uma cepa de BRS considerada como modelo experimental para o grupo, a bactéria Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Para testes com cultura mista foram utilizados consórcios microbianos coletados de amostras de água produzida de petróleo e do Rio Camarajipe, Salvador-BA. Foi observado que a D. vulgaris apresentou uma taxa de crescimento de 0,67 h-1 em meio rico contendo sulfato, mas é capaz de crescer na presença de nitrato com taxas próximas de 0,34h-1 e um consumo de nitrato de ≅22mg L-1h-1. Esse resultado ilustra a ineficiência do uso isolado de nitrato para controlar BRS em poços de petróleo. Os testes relacionando a variação da densidade de D. vulgaris em meio de cultura com fonte de carbono e aceptor de eletron (SO4 2-) em concentrações padronizadas demostrou alta correlação linear (R2 ≥ 99%). Esse resultado comprova viabilidade de usar o Modelo de Monod para quantificar biomassa dessa cultura em apenas 12 horas de teste, ao invés de 28 dias como é o caso da técnica de NMP. A sensibilidade do método esta entre as densidades de 102-108 cel/mL. Os resultados foram menos significativos com culturas mistas de BRS provinda de amostras ambientais, mas, os resultados sugerem que ajustes na técnica podem melhorar seu desempenho. / Sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) are of significant environmental and industrial importance. SRB produces significant amounts of sulphite that can cause bio-corrosion on industrial installations and be toxic to humans. Monitoring the presence of such bacteria is an activity frequently required in order to determine treatment and prevent sulphite production during petrol exploration. Injection of biocides is commonly used for this purpose and should be proportional to SRB present in the environment in order to avoid economic and environmental drawbacks. The objective of this work was to develop an indirect method for monitoring SRB population in situ based on the consumption ratios of electron acceptors such as sulphate. First, it was necessary to adapt a chromatographic method for detecting ions such as sulphate and nitrate, but the approach has also showed to be successful for separating 15 other anions such as tungstate, sulphite, phosphate, molibdate, oxalate, nitrite, chlorate, pyruvate, butyrate, propionate, acetate, fluorite, formiate, succinate and citrate. The chromatographic approach is robust to pass the “INMETRO” and “ANVISA”, the Brazilian regulation agencies. Additionally, the chromatographic approach was also tested against a spectrophotometric method for determine sulphate. The chromatographic run achieved was of 45 min only, compared to a longer period suggested by the manufacturer and with a detection limit of 574.2 and 127,1mg l-1 for sulphate and nitrate, respectively. The spectrophotometric approach was efficient for detecting sulfphate and nitrate at the range of 40 to 200mg l-1. Sulphate consumption versus the biomass activity of SRB was first tested using pure culture and later with environmental mixed cultures. Desulfovibrio vulgaris was used as a biological model representing SRB for the tests with pure culture. Two different consortiums were used for testing environmental SRB mixed cultures, one collected at the Camarajipe River, Salvador-BA, and cells grown from industrial produced water obtained from oil wells. It was observed that D. vulgaris showed a growth rate of about 0,67 h-1 in rich media with sulphate as sole electron acceptor, but the culture was also able to grow on nitrate with an average consumption of ≅22mg L-1h-1 and a growth rate of 0.34 h-1. This result suggest the inefficiency of using nitrate as means to control SRB in oil wells once some SRB can utilize it as electron acceptors. Tests correlating the variation of D. vulgaris initial biomass with sulphate consumption rate at standard conditions of carbon source and electron acceptor concentrations showed to be of statistical significance (R2 ≥ 99%). This result strongly support the tested method, which is based on the Monod model, for measuring bacterial biomass within only 12 hours instead of 28 days such as required by the most probable number technique (MPN). The sensitivity of the method was set between 102-108 cel/ml, but the results were less significant when tested with mixed environmental cultures. Nonetheless, the result showed that some adjustment in the technique may improve its performance.

[pt] O uso de produtos biocidas de baixa eficiência ou que apresentem elevado caráter tóxico podem levar a sérias conseqüências em termos dos efeitos para a recuperação do petróleo e, também, relacionadas com aspectos de saúde ocupacional e de meio ambiente. Assim, foi desenvolvido um estudo para selecionar, dentre as bases ativas disponíveis no mercado, aquelas ativas biocidas com potencial de aplicação em sistemas de injeção de água do mar para recuperação secundária de petróleo. O estudo foi dividido em duas etapas: ensaios de laboratório em condições semi-estáticas de fluxo e ensaios de laboratório em condições dinâmicas de fluxo. Na etapa de avaliação das bases ativas sob condições semi-estáticas, foram selecionadas apenas as bases ativas sulfato de tetra-hidroximetilfosfônio (THPS) e o sal quaternário de amônio (QAT), cloreto de dialquil dimetil benzil amônio para os testes sob condições dinâmicas de fluxo devido à elevada eficiência e menor caráter tóxico. Os ensaios sob condições dinâmicas indicaram que, em presença de um biofilme maduro e com elevada contaminação por bactérias planctônicas, o tratamento com 10 ppm(v) do produto contendo o QAT, isoladamente, não foi suficiente para reduzir significativamente a contaminação no sistema. O tratamento com 150 ppm(v) do produto contendo a base ativa sulfato de THPS apresentou elevada eficiência para a inibição da concentração de bactérias planctônicas e eficiência regular para bactérias redutoras de sulfato mesófilas (m-BRS) aderidas aos corpos- de-prova (biofilme). O tratamento com ambos os produtos apresentou elevado efeito, tanto sobre os microrganismos planctônicos quanto os aderidos aos corpos- de-prova. / [en] The use of biocides products of low efficiency or that present high toxic character can take serious consequences in terms of the effects for the oil recovery and also, related with aspects of occupational health and environment. Thus, it was developed a study in order to select, among the available active bases in the market, the ones with potential of application in sea water injection systems for secondary oil recovery. The study was divided in two stages: laboratory assays in half-static conditions of flow and laboratory assays in dynamic conditions of flow. In the stage of active bases evaluation under half-static conditions, only the active base tetra(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate (THPS) and the ammonium quaternary salt (QAT), ammonium dimetil dialquil benzil chloride had been selected for the tests under dynamic conditions of flow due its high efficiency and low toxic character. The evaluation under dynamic conditions had indicated that in presence of a mature biofilm and with high planktonic bacteria contamination, m-SRB and GAnB, the treatment with only 10 ppm(v) of the product containing the QAT was not enough to reduce significantly the contamination in the system. The treatment with 150 ppm(v) of the product containing the active base THPS showed high efficiency for the inhibition of the planktonic bacteria concentration and regular efficiency for mesophilic sulphate-reducing bacteria (m-SRB) adhered to the coupon (biofilm). The treatment with both products presented high efficiency not only on the planktonic microorganisms but also the adhered ones to the coupon.

A local integrated pulp and paper Kraft mill had come under pressure from the local communities and mill personnel to reduce the odours that were perceived to be generated at the Farm Dams and irrigation farm situated adjacent to the mill. The typical odours associated with Kraft mills are due to the generation of four reduced sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methyl-mercaptan (CH3SH), dimethyl-sulphide (CH3)2S and dimethyl-disulphide (CH3)2S2. These compounds are collectively referred to as Total Reduced Sulphur (TRS) components which are generated as a direct result of the Kraft pulping and chemical recovery process. These components can either be in the gaseous or aqueous phase depending on the characteristics of the effluent. Gaseous and aqueous TRS profiling of the mill indicated that hydrogen sulphide (H2S) was the main odour component generated and emitted from the Clarifiers and the Treated Effluent Transfer Sump (TETS) at the effluent treatment plant. The hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emission levels were affected by process upsets, sludge removal frequencies, chemical composition of the effluent, Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) activity, pH and temperature fluctuations. Treatment options such as pH control using slaked lime, dosing of biocides, addition of biomodifiers and/or a sulphate reduction inhibitor were investigated. The use of slaked lime, Ca(OH) 2, for pH control was not practical due to continuous pH fluctuations, increasing the pH would increase the scaling tendencies of the effluent and would also affect the soil cation-anion exchange properties of the irrigated farm land. The use of non-oxidising biocides was effective in reducing SRB activity between 99.2% and 99.8% at dosages between 4 mg/l and 25 mg/l. However, the use of biocides was not considered as a long term treatment option due to the various disadvantages such as the stability of the biocides at fluctuating pH and temperatures, half-life, environmental accumulation, toxicity and costs. The aqueous H2S level was reduced by 79% using different combinations of biomodifiers (nitrates, nitrites, molybdenum). Increasing the dosages of the biomodifiers (> 500mg/l) would be required to increase the reduction of H2S levels by more than 79%. The increased dosages would significantly increase the cost of the treatment programme. The accumulation of nitrates, nitrites and molybdenum could affect the soil texture, cation-anion exchange capacity, permeability, Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) and nutrient availability. A more environmentally friendly and cost effective treatment was found using sodium nitrate (biomodifier) together with AQ (sulphate reduction inhibitor). The continuous dosing of 50 mg/l sodium nitrate together with 4 mg/l AQ would be effective in reducing the average aqueous H2S levels (40 mg/l) by at least 92%. This treatment would also be compatible with aeration or oxidation procedures to further increase the removal of H2S to achieve an aqueous H2S level of <1 mg/l. Aeration or oxidation would also increase the dissolved oxygen and COD levels, increase the inhibition of SRB activity and oxidise any reduced sulphur. The dosing of sodium nitrate and AQ to control the generation of H2S is not patented in South Africa. It can, therefore, be used to treat the Kraft mill effluent without violating any intellectual property rights in South Africa. / Dissertation (MSc(Applied Science))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

M.Tech. (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology / Corrosion responses of some carbon steels, stainless steel and copper alloys in the presence of a culture of bacteria (referred to as SRB-Sulphate-reducing bacteria) found in industrial heat exchangers, was studied to recommend best alloys under this service condition, with techno-economic consideration. Water from cooling towers in three plants in a petrochemical processing complex were analysed for SRB presence. Two of the water samples showed positive indication of SRB presence. The mixed cultures obtained from plant one were grown in prepared media and incubated at 35 °C for 18 days. Potentiodynamic polarisation studies in anaerobic conditions were done on the selected alloys in aqueous media with and without the grown SRB. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were then used to study the corrosion morphology and corrosion products formation. The voltamograms show higher icorr for alloys under the SRB compared to the control media, indicating the SRB indeed increased the corrosion rates. The surface analysis showed pitting on steel alloy ASTM A106-B. Localised attack to the grain boundaries on a selective area, was seen on ASTM A516-70 dislodging the grains, and intergranular corrosion was seen throughout the exposed area of ASTM A179. Copper alloys showed pitting on ASTM B111 grade C71500 (70-30), and denickelification on ASTM B111 grade C70600 (90-10), and is a good alternative material for use apart from carbon steel alloys, recording a low corrosion rate of 0.05 mm/year. The EDS analysis supported the findings showing higher weight percent of iron and sulphur on surface of the alloys after exposure to the SRB media. This implies that the presence of the sulphur ion indeed increased the corrosion rate. ASTM A516-70 carbon steel was chosen as a suitable alternative material to the stainless steel in this environment. The Tafel plot recorded a corrosion rate of 1.08 mm/year for ASTM A516-70 when exposed to SRB media.

This project was compiled in co-operation with the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm and Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) at the Woodlawn Bioreactor in NSW, Australia. Hydrogen sulphide is an unwanted component of landfill gas, raising occupational health and safety concerns, whilst leading to acid gas corrosion of power generation equipment and increased emissions of SOx, a primary constituent of acidification. Australian governmental requirements to place a periodic cover over the unused proportion of the tipping surface of landfills and bioreactors create an interesting opportunity for the removal of the hydrogen sulphide component of landfill gas. Using waste materials containing a high concentration of metals as waste cover can enhance the precipitation of sulphur in the form of metal sulphides. The reduction of sulphate via sulphate reducing bacteria is prevalent in sites that have a sizeable inflow of sulphate. The Woodlawn Bioreactor is located in an area where the influence of sulphate has a critical influence of bioreactor performance and production of hydrogen sulphide. Through a series of experimental bioreactors it was established that from the use of metalliferous periodic waste covers, the hydrogen sulphide component of landfill gas was maintained at an extremely low level when compared to the levels of hydrogen sulphide produced in waste under the influence of high sulphate loads with no waste cover. / www.ima.kth.se