This paper describes a novel biological process for safe and cost effective production of sulphide from elemental sulphur, waste sulphuric acid or sulphate present in effluents. With this technology, gaseous or dissolved H2S is produced on-site and on-demand in an engineered, high rate bioreactor.
Experience with industrial applications at metal processing plants will be presented. The technology can serve to selectively recover metals from e.g. bleed streams, leach liquor, effluent streams and acid mine drainage. Lower overall costs and increased safety (no transport or storage of sulphide, production on-demand and at ambient pressure) are the main advantages of this new process compared to its alternatives.