Performance of Paracoccus pantotrophus for H2S removal in biotrickling filter

Paracoccus pantotrophus NTV02 (PCP), a novel strain of sulfur oxidizer isolated from a full-scale leather industry wastewater treatment plant, was used for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal from synthetic biogas in a biotrickling filter system. Its growth and sulfur oxidation activity were initially evaluated in batch reactors with the culture media containing 10 g/L thiosulfate and varying glucose concentrations (0.5-2.0 g/L) prepared in 52 mM phosphate buffer (pH 8). Its maximum growth rate (0.57 ± 0.00 h−1) was observed at 1 g/L glucose, while the maximum sulfate production rate (159.21 ± 2.48 mg/L·h) was found at 0.5 g/L glucose. The replacement of fresh nutrient containing-recirculation medium every 48 h, and pH adjustment (pH 8.0) every 24 h was the optimum practice for H2S removal in the biotrickling filter operation. At the optimum operation, H2S was removed up to 96% when the initial H2S concentration was in the range of 150-400 ppmv.