ABSTRACT
Microorganisms from an anaerobic methane oxidizing sediment were enriched with methane gas as the substrate in a biotrickling filter (BTF) using thiosulfate as electron acceptor for 213 days. A BTF fed with thiosulfate as electron acceptor can be used to enrich sulfate reducing bacteria of the Desulfococcus group and activate the inoculum for anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to sulfate reduction. The polyurethane foam was used as the packing material of the BTF because of its high porosity, good biomass retention capacity and its ability to enhance gas to liquid mass transfer of the poorly soluble methane by increasing gas-liquid mixing and retaining methane in the pores. The carbon and sulfur bioconversions of the consortia growing on the polyurethane foam and the possible abiotic processes were assessed with the help of batch tests and the microorganisms enriched in the BTF after long term operation were visualized and identified.
