ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to understand how the different electron acceptors commonly present in biological nutrient removal systems can affect the proliferation of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB). Oxygen was the most inhibiting electron acceptor regardless the carbon source used. Despite that there are several studies on SRB inhibition caused by their exposure to electron acceptors, there is still a need to understand the potential sulphate reduction activity under similar conditions to those transient conditions observed in wastewater treatment plants. During the nitrate inhibition batch test, the residual activity of SRB after the exposure to nitrate was assessed. It was possible to observe that the residual activity of SRB after the exposure to nitrate was higher when lactate was fed. Furthermore, the long-term exposure to nitrate/nitrite may induce the growth of autotrophic denitrifiers that could grow coexisting with SRB hindering the inhibition caused by the addition of nitrate or nitrite.
