BACKGROUND: This study deals with the potential of biological processes combining biofiltration and a biotrickling filter to treat a mixture of sulphur reduced compounds (SRC) including dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The first step in this work is to evaluate the influence of pH on SRC biodegradation in microcosms seeded with planktonic biomass from activated sludge of a rendering facility. In a second step, for each tested pH, evaluation of the influence of pH on total bacterial community diversity and structure has been investigated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). RESULTS: At pH 7 and 5, H2S, DMS and DMDS were completely removed. In return, the abatement of DMS and DMDS is low, around 20%, for pH 3 and pH 1 microcosms. The selective pressure imposed in the microcosms (concentration and pH) is sufficient to influence strongly the community diversity and composition. The inoculum community seems to make a significant contribution to the 67-day community in the considered pH microcosms. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that distinct communities from different inocula can achieve high and stable functionality. The results obtained provide relevant information for improving the treatment of different SRC using biotrickling filter/biofilter combination. Copyright (c) 2012 Society of Chemical Industry