挥发性脂肪酸对厌氧干式发酵产甲烷的影响

为了提高中温干式厌氧间歇发酵效率,研究了发酵过程中间产物———挥发性脂肪酸对产甲烷的影响。实验分2批进行,第1批在牛粪发酵过程中分别添加乙酸、丙酸和丁酸,第2批发酵添加易产生挥发酸的厨余垃圾混合发酵。结果显示,添加单一挥发酸的发酵过程中,添加丙酸的产甲烷速度较慢,因为丙酸降解生成乙酸的速度较慢,减慢了甲烷的形成;混合发酵过程厨余垃圾产甲烷速度比牛粪快,发酵过程产生2个产气高峰;牛粪和厨余垃圾固体物质含量比在11∶1到5∶1范围内较好,比牛粪单独发酵产气多,产酸高但不酸败,产生的挥发酸主要是乙酸和丙酸,其中比例为7∶1混合发酵的产甲烷速率最大,为4.89 mL/(g VS·d)。实验表明,牛粪厌氧干式发酵过程添加一定量的厨余垃圾可加快挥发酸的产生并提高挥发酸产量,从而提高甲烷的产量,但是总挥发酸长时间超过10 000 mg/L,pH降到不适于产甲烷菌生长的范围时,将抑制甲烷的生成,挥发酸积累导致厌氧发酵酸败。     

Microwave treatment and struvite recovery potential of dairy manure

Microwave digestion of liquid dairy manure was tested for the release of nutrients, such as orthophosphates, ammonia-nitrogen, magnesium, calcium and potassium, both with and without the aid of an oxidizing agent (hydrogen peroxide). The orthophosphate to total phosphorus ratio of the manure increased from 21% to greater than 80% with 5 minutes of microwave treatment. More than 36% of total chemical oxygen demand (t-COD) of the manure was reduced when microwave digestion was assisted with peroxide addition. In addition, the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) distribution shifted to simpler chain acids (acetic acid in particular) with an increase in operating temperature. In the second part of the study, digested manure with increased soluble phosphate was tested for the recovery of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) at different pH. It was found that up to 90% of orthophosphate can be removed from the solution. Overall, it was concluded that the oxidizing agent-assisted microwave digestion process can be used upstream of anaerobic digestion, following which the anaerobically digested manure can be used for struvite recovery. Thus, this microwave digestion process presents the potential for enhanced efficiencies in both manure digestion and struvite recovery.     

Microwave treatment and struvite recovery potential of dairy manure

Microwave digestion of liquid dairy manure was tested for the release of nutrients, such as orthophosphates, ammonia-nitrogen, magnesium, calcium and potassium, both with and without the aid of an oxidizing agent (hydrogen peroxide). The orthophosphate to total phosphorus ratio of the manure increased from 21% to greater than 80% with 5 minutes of microwave treatment. More than 36% of total chemical oxygen demand (t-COD) of the manure was reduced when microwave digestion was assisted with peroxide addition. In addition, the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) distribution shifted to simpler chain acids (acetic acid in particular) with an increase in operating temperature. In the second part of the study, digested manure with increased soluble phosphate was tested for the recovery of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) at different pH. It was found that up to 90% of orthophosphate can be removed from the solution. Overall, it was concluded that the oxidizing agent-assisted microwave digestion process can be used upstream of anaerobic digestion, following which the anaerobically digested manure can be used for struvite recovery. Thus, this microwave digestion process presents the potential for enhanced efficiencies in both manure digestion and struvite recovery.     

混合水解对打捆麦秸水解产酸的影响

为研究混合水解对麦秸水解产酸的影响,以猪粪、厨余和蔬菜废物为原料,研究其分别与麦秸混合水解产酸的特性,分析了水解过程中pH值、COD、SCOD和VFAs的变化。结果表明,除麦秸＋蔬菜废物最佳出料时间为3～9d外,麦秸、麦秸＋厨余垃圾、麦秸＋猪粪水解液最佳出料时间均为3～7d,7d后水解液COD浓度下降;将蔬菜废物与麦秸混合水解,水解液pH值降低幅度最大,水解液中总有机酸浓度最高,pH值最低为5．31,有机酸浓度最高达6．46g／L,且水解液中SCOD浓度、SCOD／COD比值最大;添加猪粪明显促进了麦秸有机物的水解溶出,麦秸单位干物质水解率和产酸率较对照分别提高了43％～134％和50．53％,但对提高水解液SCOD浓度、SCOD／COD比、TVFA浓度、降低水解液pH值的效果不如蔬菜废物;添加厨余垃圾的效果介于猪粪和蔬菜废物之间。从促进麦秸水解产酸的角度,以添加猪粪的效果最好。     

Treatment of dairy manure using the microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process under a continuous mode operation

The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW/H(2)O(2)-AOP) was used to treat dairy manure for solubilization of nutrients and organic matters. This study investigated the effectiveness of the MW/H(2)O(2)-AOP under a continuous mode of operation, and compared the results to those of batch operations. The main factors affecting solubilization by the MW/H(2)O(2)-AOP were heating temperature and hydrogen peroxide dosage. Soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) increased with an increase of microwave (MW) heating temperature; very high concentrations were obtained at 90°C. Insignificant amounts of ammonia and reducing sugars were released in all runs. An acidic pH condition was required for phosphorus solubilisation from dairy manure. The best yield was obtained at 90°C with an acid dosage of 1.0 %; about 92 % of total phosphorus and 90 % of total chemical oxygen demand were in the soluble forms. The MW/H(2)O(2)-AOP operated in a continuous operation mode showed pronounced synergistic effects between hydrogen peroxide and microwave irradiation when compared to a batch system under similar operating conditions, resulting in much better yields.     

Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process for treating dairy manure at low pH

This study investigated the treatment of dairy manure using the microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP) at pH 2. An experimental design was developed based on a statistical program using response surface methodology to explore the effects of temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage and heating time on sugar production, nutrient release and solids destruction. Temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage and acid concentration were key factors affecting reducing sugar production. The highest reducing sugar yield of 7.4% was obtained at 160°C, 0 mL, 15 min heating time, and no H(2)O(2) addition. Temperature was a dominant factor for an increase of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in the treated dairy manure. The important factors for volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were microwave temperature and hydrogen peroxide dosage. Temperature was the most important parameter, and heating time, to a lesser extent affecting orthophosphate release. Heating time, hydrogen peroxide dosage and temperature were significant factors for ammonia release. There was a maximum of 96% and 196% increase in orthophosphate and ammonia concentration, respectively at 160°C, 0.5 mL H(2)O(2) and 15 min heating time. The MW-AOP is an effective method in dairy manure treatment for sugar production, nutrient solubilisation, and solids disintegration.     

Free Fatty Acids and Sterols in Swine Manure

Free fatty acids and sterols were assessed in fresh manure and anaerobic lagoon sludge from swine production facilities in North Carolina. Eight free fatty acids and five sterols were identified and quantified in both manure and sludge samples. Compound identification was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and compound quantities were determined by gas chromatography after solid phase extraction with a 50:50 mixture of diethyl ether and hexane. The free fatty acids occurring in greatest abundance in both fresh manure and lagoon sludge were palmitic, oleic, and stearic. Free fatty acid content in fresh manure ranged from approximately 3 μ g g^?1 dry weight (dw) to over 45 μ g g^?1 dw. In lagoon sludge, free fatty acid content ranged from about 0.8 μ g g^?1 dw to nearly 4 μ g g^?1 dw. Coprostanol and epicoprostanol were the sterols in largest concentrations in fresh manure and lagoon sludge samples. Total sterol content ranged from approximately 0.5 μ g g^?1 dw to around 11 μ g g^?1 dw in fresh manure and from 3.5 μ g g^?1 dw to almost 9 μ g g^?1 dw in lagoon sludge. Fresh manure and lagoon sludge both had high levels of inorganic cations (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe) capable of binding free fatty acids and forming insoluble complexes, thereby potentially reducing fatty acid biodegradation. In anaerobic lagoons, sterols are an organic fraction of sludge that are resistant to bacterial degradation. In the case of fresh manure, fatty acids could represent a potential source of energy via the manufacture of biodiesel fuel, if efficient means for their extraction and transesterification can be devised.     

食品废弃物厌氧消化产乙酸的研究

通过实验,研究了pH、总固体浓度(TS)、碳氮比(C/N)对食品废弃物厌氧消化产乙酸的影响,详细考察了挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)的组成和浓度及乙酸浓度随时间的变化规律.结果表明,pH为6.5、TS为7%(质量分数)、C/N为16:1时,总VFA的最大质量浓度为31.56 g/L,乙酸的最大质量浓度为19.46 g/L.     

Solids separation coupled with batch-aeration treatment for odor control from liquid swine manure

Previous studies on solids/liquid (S-L) separation for odor control from swine manure indicated that the practice might not technically be feasible because of the complexity of removing the fine particles, which are usually the major source of the odor problems. This study coupled S-L separation by sedimentation with an aeration treatment to quickly break down the fine as well as dissolved solids. Results showed that S-L separation of manure prior to aeration, at the same level of aeration, took only 1.5 days compared to 3 days needed for the control, to bring down volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to the "threshold of unacceptable level". In addition, it took 2.3 and 5 aeration-days for VFAs to reach the "acceptable level" for the separated liquid manure and the control, respectively. Results also showed that within the three weeks of post-aeration storage, the VFAs in the separated liquid manure consistently stayed 13.5 folds below the acceptable level. In the unseparated manure, the VFAs gradually increased upwards from 2.2 folds below acceptable level achieved at the end of aeration treatment, to 1.38 folds below the acceptable level at the end of the third week of storage and looked poised to definitely rise above the acceptable level in a matter of days. A strong relationship (R=0.99) between pH and the VFAs in the manure suggested that; degradation of VFAs rendered manure more basic as shown by the increase in pH. After only three days of aeration, the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) in the separated liquid manure stabilized at a much higher level of -15 mV, while the ORP in unseparated manure stabilized at a much lower level of -200 mV. The S-L separation treatment thus significantly improves the oxygen transfer efficiency, which in turn significantly reduces the aeration power needed to maintain adequate ORP if prolonged aeration is desired.     

Free Fatty acids and sterols in swine manure

Free fatty acids and sterols were assessed in fresh manure and anaerobic lagoon sludge from swine production facilities in North Carolina. Eight free fatty acids and five sterols were identified and quantified in both manure and sludge samples. Compound identification was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and compound quantities were determined by gas chromatography after solid phase extraction with a 50:50 mixture of diethyl ether and hexane. The free fatty acids occurring in greatest abundance in both fresh manure and lagoon sludge were palmitic, oleic, and stearic. Free fatty acid content in fresh manure ranged from approximately 3 microg g(-1) dry weight (dw) to over 45 microg g(-1) dw. In lagoon sludge, free fatty acid content ranged from about 0.8 microg g(-1) dw to nearly 4 microg g(-1) dw. Coprostanol and epicoprostanol were the sterols in largest concentrations in fresh manure and lagoon sludge samples. Total sterol content ranged from approximately 0.5 microg g(-1) dw to around 11 microg g(-1) dw in fresh manure and from 3.5 microg g(-1) dw to almost 9 microg g(-1) dw in lagoon sludge. Fresh manure and lagoon sludge both had high levels of inorganic cations (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe) capable of binding free fatty acids and forming insoluble complexes, thereby potentially reducing fatty acid biodegradation. In anaerobic lagoons, sterols are an organic fraction of sludge that are resistant to bacterial degradation. In the case of fresh manure, fatty acids could represent a potential source of energy via the manufacture of biodiesel fuel, if efficient means for their extraction and transesterification can be devised.     

Low-temperature inactivation of fecal coliforms in sludge digestion.

The goal of this research was to demonstrate the ability to achieve Class A pathogen standards in nonthermophilic acid digesters. It was proposed that the key mechanism responsible for fecal coliform inactivation was the presence of un-ionized volatile fatty acids. Lab-scale acid digesters were assembled and operated in a batch mode for 5 days at mesophilic (38 degrees C) and low-mesophilic (21 degrees C) temperatures and at different solids concentrations. The key factor recognized for successful pathogen inactivation was pH, which is also the main factor driving the shift in organic acids toward the un-ionized form. Compared to conventional mesophilic acid digestion, low-mesophilic acid digestion was effective in fecal coliform inactivation because the process maintained lower pH throughout the duration of the experiment, offered continuous release of organic acids, and showed higher concentrations of organic acids in un-ionized form, including acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate.     

Treating solid dairy manure using microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process

The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) was used to treat separated solid dairy manure for nutrient release and solids reduction. The MW/H₂O₂-AOP was conducted at a microwave temperature of 120°C for 10 minutes, and at three pH conditions of 3.5, 7.3 and 12. The hydrogen peroxide dosage at approximately 2 mL per 1% TS for a 30 mL sample was used in this study, reflecting a range of 0.53–0.75 g H₂O₂/g dry sludge. The results indicated that substantial quantities of nutrients could be released into the solution at pH of 3.5. However, at neutral and basic conditions only volatile fatty acids and soluble chemical oxygen demand could be released. The analyses on orthophosphate, soluble chemical oxygen demands and volatile fatty acids were re-examined for dairy manure. It was found that the orthophosphate concentration for untreated samples at a higher % total solids (TS) was suppressed and lesser than actual. To overcome this difficulty, the initial orthophosphate concentration had to be measured at 0.5% TS.     

Analysis of volatile fatty acids in wastewater collected from a pig farm by a solid phase microextraction method

The main purpose of this study is to develop a reliable Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) method for monitoring the concentration of volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the wastewater collected from pig farms. Ten volatile fatty acid species were spiked in 2 ml of swine wastewater and extracted with a carbowax coated extraction fiber to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the method. The fiber was introduced into a gas chromatography system by thermal desorption and detected by a mass spectrometer detector. The estimated method detection limits ranged from 11.5 mM/L for formic acid to 0.03 mM/L for heptanoic acid. The method is more sensitive than the sample direct injection method. The percentage recovery of analytes ranged from 77.3 for propanoic acid to 114.1 for formic acid at the spike level of 19.09 mM/L. The compound absorption rate varied significantly with the fiber absorption time for n-Valeric, isocaproic, n-caproic and heptanoic acids. An SPME method with twenty minutes fiber absorption and three minutes thermal desorption was tested in this study and resulted in good reproducibility for analyzing VFAs in swine wastewater. The method may be applied for scanning a wide spectrum of polar organic compounds in environmental samples.     

Pinonaldehyde and some other organics in rain and snow in central Japan.

Solvent-extractable organic compounds in the rain and snow collected at local cities in the mountainous region in central Japan, were analyzed by GC/MS and GC. Pinonaldehyde (2,2-dimethyl-3-acetyl-cyclobutyl-ethanal), an atmospheric reaction product of alpha-pinene, was detected in the rain and snow for the first time, and n-alkanes (C17-C33), fatty acids (C8-C23), and benzoic acid were also detected as major organic components. Concentrations of pinonaldehyde, C17-C33 n-alkanes, C8-C11 fatty acids, C12-C23 fatty acids and benzoic acid ranged between <0.02-13, 0.10-35, 0.55-5.7, 4.2-19 and <0.02-6.0 microg/l, respectively. Their composition showed some difference in summer and winter. In summer, fatty acids and benzoic acid were more abundant, while pinonaldehyde and n-alkanes were much less. Higher photochemical reactivity and higher bioactivity in summer could explain these seasonal changes except for pinonaldehyde, which would suffer from further oxidation in the atmosphere after its photochemical production from alpha-pinene. Predominance of pinonaldehyde and C12-C23 fatty acids in the rain and snow showed a remarkable contrast to n-alkanes in aerosol phase, which were the most abundant components. It indicated that oxygenated products from biogenic compounds might be important as cloud condensation nuclei in forest areas.     

Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process for treating dairy manure at low pH

This study investigated the treatment of dairy manure using the microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP) at pH 2. An experimental design was developed based on a statistical program using response surface methodology to explore the effects of temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage and heating time on sugar production, nutrient release and solids destruction. Temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage and acid concentration were key factors affecting reducing sugar production. The highest reducing sugar yield of 7.4% was obtained at 160°C, 0 mL, 15 min heating time, and no H₂O₂ addition. Temperature was a dominant factor for an increase of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in the treated dairy manure. The important factors for volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were microwave temperature and hydrogen peroxide dosage. Temperature was the most important parameter, and heating time, to a lesser extent affecting orthophosphate release. Heating time, hydrogen peroxide dosage and temperature were significant factors for ammonia release. There was a maximum of 96% and 196% increase in orthophosphate and ammonia concentration, respectively at 160°C, 0.5 mL H₂O₂ and 15 min heating time. The MW-AOP is an effective method in dairy manure treatment for sugar production, nutrient solubilisation, and solids disintegration.     

Contrast of volatile fatty acid driven and inorganic acid or base driven phosphorus release and uptake in enhanced biological phosphorus removal

Addition of an inorganic acid or base was detrimental to net phosphorus removals in short-term batch experiments, suggesting there might be system upset when pH changes. In contrast, addition of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) increased anaerobic phosphorus release and aerobic phosphorus uptake while maintaining or improving net phosphorus removals. The effect of pH change differed if the acid or base added was inorganic versus organic. Volatile fatty acids that resulted in poly-3-hydroxy-butyrate rather than poly-3-hydroxy-valerate resulted in greater net phosphorus removals, and this corresponded to differences in consumption of reducing equivalents. Acetic acid resulted in improved net phosphorus removal compared to sodium acetate, suggesting that acid forms of VFAs might be superior as supplemental VFAs. It is hypothesized that anaerobic phosphorus release following addition of inorganic acid is primarily a result of phosphorus and proton (H+) symport (excretion from the cell) for pH homeostasis, whereas addition of VFAs results in phosphorus and H+ release to maintain the proton motive force.     

Development of an efficient extraction method for oxytetracycline in animal manure for high performance liquid chromatography analysis

Oxytetracycline (2-(amino-hydroxy-methylidene)-4-dimethylamino-5,6,10,11,12a-pentahydroxy-6-methyl-4,4a,5,5a-tetrahydrotetracene-1,3,12-trione) is a major member of the tetracycline antibiotics family of which are widely administered to animals in concentrated animal feeding operations for purposes of therapeutical treatment and health protection. With the disposal of animal manure as fertilizer into agricultural land, tetracyclines enter the environment. However, tetracyclines chelate with multivalent cations and proteins, resulting in low extraction efficiencies from animal manure for tetracycline residue analysis. In this study an efficient extraction method for oxytetracycline from steer manure using methanol/water solution amended with chelating organic acid was developed for the analysis of high performance liquid chromatography. The effect of species and amount of amendment acids, shaking time, methanol/water ratio, manure weight, and repeated times of extraction was investigated. It was optimized to amend 2.5 g citric acid and 1.1 g oxalic acid with 10.0 g manure sample in a 50-ml centrifuge tube and extract with 15 ml methanol/water (9:1 in volume) by vigorously shaking for 30 min in a reciprocating shaker. After centrifugation at 11,000 rpm, supernatant is collected. Sample was extracted for a total of 3 times. The developed extraction method was further applied to extract oxytetracycline from fresh and aged cow manure, swine and poultry manure, and soil. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from (84.1 ± 2.4) % to (102.0 ± 3.1) % were obtained, demonstrating that the optimized extraction method is robust for oxytetracycline from different manure sample matrixes.     

Effects of pen bedding and feeding high crude protein diets on manure composition and greenhouse gas emissions from a feedlot pen surface

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations vary by stage of production and management practices. The objective of this research was to study the effect of two dietary crude protein levels (12 and 16%) fed to beef steers in pens with or without corn stover bedding. Manure characteristics and GHG emissions were measured from feedlot pen surfaces. Sixteen equal-sized feedlot pens (19?×?23 m) were used. Eight were bedded approximately twice a week with corn stover and the remaining eight feedlot pens were not bedded. Angus steers (n = 138) were blocked by live weights (lighter and heavier) with 7 to 10 animals per pen. The trial was a 2?×?2 factorial design with factors of two protein levels and two bedding types (bedding vs. non bedding), with four replicates. The study was conducted from June through September and consisted of four ?28-day periods. Manure from each pen was scrapped once every 28 days and composite manure samples from each pen were collected. Air samples from pen surfaces were sampled in Tedlar bags using a Vac-U-Chamber coupled with a portable wind tunnel and analyzed with a greenhouse gas gas chromatograph within 24 hr of sampling. The manure samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia (NH₃), total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), total carbon (TC), total phosphorus (TP), and potassium (K). The air samples were analyzed for methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) concentrations. The concentration of TN was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in manure from pens with cattle fed the high protein diets. The volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids concentrations were similar across both treatments. There were no significant differences in pen surface GHG emissions across manure management and dietary crude protein levels.

Implications: Livestock manure produces odor and emits GHGs (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) at different stages of production and management practices that have significant environmental concerns. Thus, it is important to measure GHG contributions from different sources and develop appropriate mitigation strategies for minimizing GHG contribution from livestock production facilities. Two dietary protein levels (12 and 16%) fed to beef steers in pens with or without corn stover bedding were studied. The results indicated that dietary protein levels and bedding vs. no bedding had very little effect on GHG emissions and manure composition under open feedlot conditions in North Dakota climatic conditions and management practices.     

Growth Inhibition by Nitrocompounds of Selected Uric Acid-Utilizing Microorganisms Isolated from Poultry Manure

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the potential ability of nitrocompounds to reduce ammonia volatilization by inhibiting uric acid–utilizing microorganisms. Experiment I was conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrocompounds on the growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms isolated from poultry manure during six-hour incubation. There were five treatments: (1) control, (2) 50 mM nitroethane, (3) 50 mM nitroethanol, (4) 50 mM nitropropanol, and (5) 50 mM nitropropionic acid. Optical density values of nitrocompounds were significantly lower than that of control at two, four, and six hours. Plate counts of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms after six-hour incubation exhibited that nitrocompounds greatly reduced the growth of these microorganisms except for the nitroethane (P < 0.05). The nitropropanol and nitropropionic acid treatments showed significantly higher inhibitory effects compared to the nitroethanol. Experiments II and III were conducted to evaluate inhibitory effects of nitrocompounds on growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms compared to non-nitrocompounds such as ethanol, propanol, and propionic acid. Experiments II and III consisted of seven treatments: (1) control, (2) nitroethanol, (3) nitropropanol, (4) nitropropionic acid, (5) ethanol, (6) propanol, and (7) propionic acid. The incubation times of Experiments II and III were 6 and 24 h, respectively. The nitrocompounds were significantly more successful in inhibiting growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms compared to those non-nitrocompounds. These results suggest that nitrocompounds exhibit potential to reduce ammonia volatilization in poultry manure by inhibiting growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms.     

Precipitation of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) at bench-scale using biogenic hydrogen sulfide from the utilization of volatile fatty acids

Biological production of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) has important potential within environmental biotechnology. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of using SRB for the treatment of an acid mine drainage (AMD) at bench-scale. This process involved three stages: the optimization of H(2)S production through the utilization of total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) by SRB, the establishment of a biofilm reactor for sulfide production, and the precipitation of metals by using the biologically produced H(2)S. The substrates used for TVFAs production consisted of papaya, apple and banana. The H(2)S produced from the degradation of TVFAs was utilized for the precipitation of a metal-contaminated effluent collected from Bolivar mine (Oruro, Bolivia). The maximum concentration of H(2)S obtained was approximately 16mM. Removal efficiencies of ca. 100% for copper, above 94% for zinc, and above 92% for lead were achieved.