Biological treatment of heavy metals in acid mine drainage using sulfate reducing bioreactors

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sierra-Alvarez ◽  
S. Karri ◽  
S. Freeman ◽  
J.A. Field
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Sulfate Reducing ◽  
Acid Mine

The uncontrolled release of acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned mines and tailing piles threatens water resources in many sites worldwide. AMD introduces elevated concentrations of sulfate ions and dissolved heavy metals as well as high acidity levels to groundwater and receiving surface water. Anaerobic biological processes relying on the activity of sulfate reducing bacteria are being considered for the treatment of AMD and other heavy metal containing effluents. Biogenic sulfides form insoluble complexes with heavy metals resulting in their precipitation. The objective of this study was to investigate the remediation of AMD in sulfate reducing bioreactors inoculated with anaerobic granular sludge and fed with an influent containing ethanol. Biological treatment of an acidic (pH 4.0) synthetic AMD containing high concentrations of heavy metals (100 mg Cu2+l−1; 10 mg Ni2+l−1, 10 mg Zn2+l−1) increased the effluent pH level to 7.0–7.2 and resulted in metal removal efficiencies exceeding 99.2%. The highest metal precipitation rates attained for Cu, Ni and Zn averaged 92.5, 14.6 and 15.8 mg metal l−1 of reactor d−1. The results of this work demonstrate that an ethanol-fed sulfidogenic reactor was highly effective to remove heavy metal contamination and neutralized the acidity of the synthetic wastewater.

scholarly journals Influence of Monovalent Cations on the Efficiency of Ferrous Ion Oxidation, Total Iron Precipitation, and Adsorptive Removal of Cr(VI) and As(III) in Simulated Acid Mine Drainage with Inoculation of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Metals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongwei Song ◽  
Heru Wang ◽  
Jun Yang ◽  
Yanxiao Cao
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Heavy Metal Removal ◽  
Monovalent Cations ◽  
Iron Minerals ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

Acid mine drainage is highly acidic and contains large quantities of Fe and heavy metal elements. Thus, it is important to promote the transformation of Fe into secondary iron minerals that exhibit strong heavy-metal removal abilities. Using simulated acid mine drainage, this work analyzes the influence of monovalent cations (K+, NH4+, and Na+) on the Fe2+ oxidation and total Fe deposition efficiencies, as well as the phases of secondary iron minerals in an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans system. It also compares the Cr(VI) (K2Cr2O7) and As(III) (As2O3) removal efficiencies of different schwertmannites. The results indicated that high concentrations of monovalent cations (NH4+ ≥ 320 mmol/L, and Na+ ≥ 1600 mmol/L) inhibited the biological oxidation of Fe2+. Moreover, the mineralizing abilities of the three cations differed (K+ > NH4+ > Na+), with cumulative Fe deposition efficiencies of 58.7%, 28.1%, and 18.6%, respectively [n(M) = 53.3 mmol/L, cultivation time = 96 h]. Additionally, at initial Cr(VI) and As(III) concentrations of 10 and 1 mg/L, respectively, the Cr(VI) and As(III) removal efficiencies exhibited by schwertmannites acquired by the three mineralization systems differed [n(Na) = 53.3 > n(NH4) = 53.3 > n(K) = 0.8 mmol/L]. Overall, the analytical results suggested that the removal efficiency of toxic elements was mainly influenced by the apparent structure, particle size, and specific surface area of schwertmannite.

scholarly journals Prediction of acid mine drainage formation and zinc migration in the tailings dam of a closed mine, and possible countermeasures

2019 ◽  
Vol 268 ◽  
pp. 06003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlito Tabelin ◽  
Asuka Sasaki ◽  
Toshifumi Igarashi ◽  
Shingo Tomiyama ◽  
Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Reactive Transport ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Tailings Dam ◽  
Visual Modflow ◽  
Acid Mine

Acid mine drainage (AMD), the very acidic and highly contaminated leachate generated in closed/abandoned mines, is commonly managed by neutralization to raise the pH and precipitate most of the heavy metals. Although effective, this approach does not generate any product of economic value, so it is very costly and unsustainable in the long-term. Unfortunately, there are currently no effective alternatives to neutralization, and one way to improve the sustainability of this process is to reduce the volume of AMD generated and/or the concentration of heavy metals. The tailings dam investigated in this study is located in northern Hokkaido, Japan. Detailed characterization of borehole core samples showed that even after almost 40 years of exposure to the environment, the tailings still contain pyrite (FeS2) and substantial amounts of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Reactive-transport modeling using Visual MODFLOW predicted that AMD quality would likely continue to deteriorate with time and that treatment should be continued for at least 1,000 years. The model also predicted that a barrier with low permeability installed downstream of the tailings dam or ground sealing techniques for recharge reduction could lower the volume of AMD and concentration of Zn from the site.

Removal of heavy metals using a wetland batch system with Carrizo (Phragmites Australis)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maribel Guzman ◽  
Maggy Romero ◽  
Michael Flores ◽  
Sebastian Bravo
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Phragmites Australis ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Heavy Metal Removal ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Slight Variation ◽  
Removal Of Heavy Metals

Abstract One of the greatest environmental issues related to the development of the mining activity is the generation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). This effluent generated by active and abandoned mines in Peru produces multiple discussions about the role of the industry for a sustainable development. Many methods have been developed for AMD treatment, being wetlands a good option for heavy metal removal. In this sense, removal of heavy metal by using laboratory constructed wetlands with Phragmites Australis was studied. During a 9-day period the variation of different physicochemical parameters and heavy metals concentrations was recorded. The pH decreased to a constant value of 8.24 after the sixth day. The electrical conductivity presented a slight variation from 1 to 1.33 µS cm-1 on the ninth day. Moreover, fluctuating values of Dissolved Oxygen and Turbidity were observed. A reduction between 69% and 93% of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) was registered. Cu concentration was reduced in 68% and 87%; Zn concentrations dropped in 53% and 95%; and Pb was reduced in 20% and 55%. It was concluded that Phragmites Australis can be an alternative in the treatment of the contaminants produced by AMD.

Heavy metal removal of intermittent acid mine drainage with an open limestone channel

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 86-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Alcolea ◽  
M. Vázquez ◽  
A. Caparrós ◽  
I. Ibarra ◽  
C. García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Heavy Metal Removal ◽  
Acid Mine

Removal of Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb in Artificial Acid Mine Drainage by Modified Oxygen Releasing Compounds

2014 ◽  
Vol 535 ◽  
pp. 758-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Min Liu ◽  
Yu Long Liu ◽  
Jia Yu Song ◽  
Hao Deng
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Heavy Metal Ions ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Main Ingredient ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Pb Ions

The aim of the study is to investigate removal of Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb in acid mine drainage (AMD) using modified oxygen releasing compounds (MORCs) of which CaO2 is the main ingredient. When the MORCs are placed into AMDs, OH- will be released gently and continuously which can neutralize H+ and precipitate heavy metal ions as hydroxide/carbonates. Four types of artificial AMDs contained Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb ions with/without sulfate were prepared in the laboratory. The removal rates of the heavy metals were measured after adding MORCs to the artificial AMDs. The results showed that the removal rates of Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb in all 4 artificial AMDs, after 72 hours, are more than 97%, even to 100%. However, after 96 hours, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb deposits can be re-dissolved by 16.4%, 11.2%, 7.0%, 5.0% and 4.8%, respectively, in the single-metal artificial AMDs; Pb and Cd deposits are more stable. Sulfate in the multi-metal artificial AMD hardly has effects on re-dissolution of the heavy metal deposits; and only Ni deposits in the single-metal AMD with sulfate and Cu deposits in the single-metal AMD without sulfate are re-dissolved significantly. It suggested that the MORCs should be an efficient material to remove Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb from AMDs after 72 hours than lime or limestone.

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