Denitrification of groundwater with pyrite and Thiobacillus denitrificans

Anaerobic batch and flow-through experiments were performed to confirm the role of pyrite as electron donor in bacterial denitrification and to look into the feasibility of pyrite-driven denitrification of nitrate-contaminated groundwater. Nitrate reduction was satisfactorily accomplished in experiments with pyrite as the sole electron donor, in presence of the autotrophic denitrifying bacterium Thiobacillus denitrificans and at nitrate concentrations comparable to those observed in contaminated groundwater. The experimental results corroborated field studies in which the reaction occurred in aquifers. Nitrate reduction rates and nitrate removal efficiencies were dependent on pyrite grain size, initial nitrate concentration, nitrate-loading rate and pH. The N and O isotopic enrichment factors (εN and εO) obtained experimentally for pyrite-driven nitrate reduction by T. denitrificans ranged from − 13.5‰ to − 15.0‰ and from − 19.0‰ to − 22.9‰, respectively. These values indicated the magnitude of the isotope fractionation that occurs in nitrate-contaminated aquifers dominated by autotrophic denitrification.

Research Highlights
► Pyrite can act as the electron donor for denitrification.
► The long-term pyrite-driven denitrifying capacity of T. denitrificans is proved.
► Nitrate reduction rate is dependent on pyrite grain size, nitrate concentration and pH.
► The N and O isotope fractionation during pyrite-driven denitrification is determined.