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Adsorption characteristics of potentially toxic metals in single- and multi-metal forms onto ferronickel slag were evaluated. Competitive sorption of metals by ferronickel slag has never been reported previously. The maximum adsorption capacities of toxic metals on ferronickel were in the order of Cd (10.2 mg g−1) > Cu (8.4 mg g−1) > Zn (4.4 mg g−1) in the single-metal adsorption isotherm and Cu (6.1 mg g−1) >> Cd (2.3 mg g−1) > Zn (0.3 mg g−1) in the multi-metal adsorption isotherm. In comparison with single-metal adsorption isotherm, the reduction rates of maximum toxic metal adsorption capacity in the multi-metal adsorption isotherm were in the following order of Zn (93%) > Cd (78%) >> Cu (27%). The Freundlich isotherm provides a slightly better fit than the Langmuir isotherm equation using ferronickel slag for potentially toxic metal adsorption. Multi-metal adsorption behaviors differed from single-metal adsorption due to competition, based on data obtained from Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models and three-dimensional simulation. Especially, Cd and Zn were easily exchanged and substituted by Cu during multi-metal adsorption. Further competitive adsorption studies are necessary in order to accurately estimate adsorption capacity of ferronickel slag for potentially toxic metals in natural environments.

To study the kinetics and physiology of autotrophic denitrifying sulfur bacteria, a steady-state anaerobic master culture reactor (MCR) was operated for over six months under a semi-continuous mode and nitrate limiting conditions using nutrient/mineral/buffer (NMB) medium containing thiosulfate and nitrate. Characteristics of the autotropic denitrifier were investigated through the cumulative gas production volume and rate, measured using an anaerobic respirometer, and through the nitrate, nitrite, and sulfate concentrations within the media. The bio-kinetic parameters were obtained based upon the Monod equation using mixed cultures in the MCR. Nonlinear regression analysis was employed using nitrate depletion and biomass production curves. Although this analysis did not yield exact biokinetic parameter estimates, the following ranges for the parameter values were obtained: μ max =0.12-0.2 hr -1 ; k=0.3-0.4 hr -1 ; K s =3-10mg/L; Y NO3 =0.4-0.5mg Biomass/mg NO 3 - -N. Inhibition of denitrification occurred when the concentrations of NO 3 - -N, and SO 4 2- reached about 660mg/L and 2,000mg/L, respectively. The autotrophic denitrifying sulfur bacteria were observed to be very sensitive to nitrite but relatively tolerant of nitrate, sulfate, and thiosulfate. Under mixotrophic conditions, denitrification by these bacteria occurred autotrophically; even with as high as 2 g COD, autotrophic denitrification was not significantly affected. The optimal pH and temperature for autotrophic denitrification was about 6.5–7.5 and 33–35 °C, respectively.