Abstract
The bio‐oxidation of ferrous iron is a potential industrial process for the regeneration of ferric iron in the removal of H~2~S. In the first stage, H~2~S is selectively oxidized to elemental sulfur using ferric sulfate. The ferrous sulfate produced is oxidized to ferric sulfate using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans for recycle and reuse in the process. The aim of the work described here was to investigate continuous oxidation of ferrous iron by immobilized T ferrooxidans and the factors which can directly affect the oxidation rate in order to assess the feasibility of this technique on an industrial scale. An analysis of the evolution of bioreactor performance with time (125 days) was performed in order to assess the feasibility of this technique on an industrial scale. A good oxidation rate was obtained despite the transport problems encountered due to occlusion of the porous support. On the other hand, the toxic effects due to absorption in the ferric solution of one or more compounds from the gas digester were studied using a ferric iron solution from the absorption process. The results indicate the feasibility of the biological system for the regeneration of the ferric‐absorbing solution. Finally, a previous study for the design of an industrial bioreactor to regenerate ferric sulfate solutions, used to remove H~2~S from biogas in a wastewater‐treatment plant (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain), is introduced. Good biological oxidation performances have been obtained using a pilot plant bioreactor of 500 dm^3^. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry