Control of Acidity Development on Solid Sulfur Due to Bacterial Action

Abstract

The global production of sulfur, which is currently obtained almost exclusively as an involuntary byproduct of the oil and gas industry, is exceeding the market demand so that long term storage or even definitive disposal of elemental sulfur is often needed to handle production surplus. The storage of large quantities of elemental sulfur calls for solidifying liquid sulfur in huge blocks, hundred meters wide on each side and as high as 20 meters. Sulfur, in presence of water and air, can be oxidized to sulfuric acid by a ubiquitous microorganism: Thiobacillus. On large blocks, this natural phenomenon may lead to soil and water acidification. Research projects have addressed suppression of Thiobacilli activity to prevent acidification, but no industrial applications have been reported. This work describes the inhibition of sulfur biological oxidation attainable by exposing sulfur to a high ionic strength environment. The bacteriostatic action is produced by contacting sulfur with a solution of an inorganic salt, such as sodium chloride, having an ionic strength similar to sea water. Possible ways to exploit the inhibitory effect to prevent the generation of acidity from sulfur storage blocks are suggested.

Insight Into Interactions of Thermoacidophilic Archaea With Elemental Sulfur: Biofilm Dynamics and EPS Analysis

“…The presence of mucous polysaccharides in the EPS was visualized by ruthenium red staining (Bryant et al, 1983). Additionally, membrane blebs occurred and these are hypothesized to aid the cells in colonization (Crescenzi et al, 2006) as well as overcoming the hydrophobic barrier necessary for their growth on S 0 (Knickerbocker et al, 2000).…”

Microbial taxa and functional genes shift in degraded soil with bacterial wilt

“…GeoChip analysis also showed the functional metabolic potential of genes involved in sulfur oxidation was higher in the degraded soils when compared to the healthy soils. Sulfur can be oxidized to sulfuric acid by sulfur oxidizing bacteria, so the sulfur oxidation is detrimental if the quantity of produced acid exceeds the buffering capacity of environment3435. Here, it is speculated the higher functional metabolic potential of sulfide oxidation genes ( e.g., fccab and soxV ) is related to the acidification of degraded soils.…”

Biodiversity, metabolism and applications of acidophilic sulfur‐metabolizing microorganisms

“…Stockpiling of S ° can also inadvertently generate extremely acidic liquors. Sulfur is generated as a by‐product by the gas and oil industries and the current scale of S production exceeds demand (Crescenzi et al ., 2006). Sulfur is stockpiled in large heaps (∼ 20 m high), which are often stored outside for economic reasons.…”