Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage by Sulfate Reducing Bacteria and Iron at Room Temperature

Abstract:

This study describes a new method to treat acid mine wastewater containing high amounts of heavy metals and sulfate by biotechnology. Sulfate reducing Bacteria (SRB) was inoculated in an up-flow multiple bed bioreactor treating practical wastewater. In addition to precipitation processes, water purification was also possible with the metabolism process of microorganisms. Iron dust was added to the system to enhance the activity of SRB and ensure the treatment efficiency. The results indicates that treating acid mining drainage using SRB and iron at room temperature (20°C~25°C) is possible, the reduction rate of sulfate is up to 61%, pH of wastewater raises from 2.75 to 6.2 and the copper concentration of effluent is less than 0.2 mg/L.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 113-116)
• Pages: 1500-1503
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.113-116.1500
• Online since: June 2010
• Authors: Ying Feng, Yong Kang, Yan Fang Yu
• Keywords: Acid Mine Drainage, Heavy Metal, Iron, Room Temperature, Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB)

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