Process for biological reduction of sulphur oxides

摘要

Sulphur oxide-containing material and organic material are fed into an anaerobic expanded bed or fixed film reactor that has been inoculated with a mixed culture of microorganisms. Hydrogen sulphide is removed from the fermented mixture by gas stripping inside and/or outside the reactor, and preferably partly within and partly outside the reactor. The hydrogen sulphide can be processed further to elemental sulphur, sulphuric acid or sulphide salts. The sulphur oxides reduction process may also generate soluble or insoluble carbonates which may be used as the microorganism growth medium or which can be recovered for use in industrial processes.