Removal of antimonate from wastewater by dissimilatory bacterial reduction: Role of the coexisting sulfate

The priority pollutant antimony (Sb) exists primarily as Sb(V) and Sb(III) in natural waters, and Sb(III) is generally with greater mobility and toxicity than Sb(V). Thebio-reduction of Sb(V) would not become a meaningful Sb-removal process unless the accumulation of produced dissolved Sb(III) could be controlled. Here, we examined the dissimilatory antimonate bio-reduction with or without the coexistence of sulfate using Sb-acclimated biomass. Results demonstrated that 0.8 mM Sb(V) was almost completely bio-reduced within 20 h along with 48.6% Sb(III) recovery. Kinetic parameters q(max) and K-s calculated were 0.54 mg-Sb mg-DW-1 h(-1) and 41.96 mg L-1, respectively. When the concentrations of coexisting sulfate were 0.8mM, 1.6mM, and 4 mM, the reduction of 0.8mM Sb(V) was accomplished within 17, 9, and 5 h, respectively, along with no final Sb(III) recovery. Also, the bio-reduction of sulfate occurred synchronously. The precipitated Sb2O3 and Sb2S3 were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared with bacterial compositions of the seed sludge obtained from anaerobic digestion tank in a wastewater treatment plant, new genera of Pseudomonas and Geobacter emerged with large proportions in both Sb-fed and Sb-sulfate-fed sludge, and a small portion of sulfate reduction bacteria emerged only in Sb-sulfate-fed culture. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.