In Situ Bioremediation of Tailings by Sulfate Reducing Bacteria and Iron Reducing Bacteria: Lab- and Field-Scale Remediation of Sulfidic Mine Tailings

Abstract:

To research the remediation efficiency of sulfate reducing bacteria and iron reducing bacteria on heavy metals, the remediation experiments of laboratory-scale and field-scale were conducted respectively with chalcopyrite tailings and 3 hectares lead-zinc sulfides mine tailings. The ion concentration of exudate was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and key bacterial strains were investigated by real-time PCR. The laboratory-scale experiment of chalcopyrite tailings indicated pH of exudate rose to neutral, penetration time of exudate significantly increased, redox potential and dissolved iron notably decreased, and black metal sulfides were formed during remediation by sulfate reducing bacteria and iron reducing bacteria. The field-scale lead-zinc sulfides mine tailings remediation results indicated that the concentration of dissolved heavy metals in exudate decreased, and the growth of both moss and plants were promoted.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 262)
• Pages: 651-655
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.262.651
• Online since: August 2017
• Authors: Xing Yu Liu, Ming Jiang Zhang*, Yi Bin Li, Zi Ning Wang, Jian Kang Wen
• Keywords: Field Experiment, Laboratory Scale, Mine Tailings Remediation

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