probing
polysulfur

Gas desulfurization is crucial to ensure the preservation of the environment. In order to do so sustainably, using bioreactors seems to be the ideal solution. In the quest to improve upon a recently developed dual-bioreactor process, researchers from Wetsus and Wageningen University and Research, found the role of polysulfides to be crucial. In this study, they quantified S_x^2– – the supposed intermediate for gas to solid sulfur production – determined their chain-length distribution under high H₂S loading rates, and tried to elucidate the relationship between biomass and the observed biological removal of sulfides under anaerobic conditions. With this knowledge, they can improve the removal of toxic H₂S, and work towards an increased formation of solid S_8­.

Read more:
Johnston, Kestral A. K. Y., Mark van Lankveld, Rieks de Rink, Pawel Roman, Johannes B. M. Klok, Annemerel R. Mol, Karel J. Keesman, and Cees J. N. Buisman. 2023. “Polysulfide Concentration and Chain Length in the Biological Desulfurization Process: Effect of Biomass Concentration and the Sulfide Loading Rate.” Environmental Science & Technology 57 (36): 13530–40. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c03017.