Treatment of acid rock drainage using a sulphate-reducing bioreactor with a limestone precolumn

Méndez, Gabriela; Trueba, Gabriel; Sierra-Álvarez, Reyes; Ochoa‐Herrera, Valeria

doi:10.1080/09593330.2021.1968039

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Sulfate removal is highly related to the ability of the treatment system to promote bioprecipitation of metals [52]. In the same bioreactor, Mendez et al reported continuous increase in sulfate removal, reaching a maximum value of 35.7% when synthetic ARD was supplemented with Cu(II) concentrations of 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg L −1 [30]. While, our results showed better sulfate reducing activity, suggesting that growing of SRBs and sulfidogenesis were not affected by the presence of Cu(II) and Zn(II).…”

Section: Microbial Community Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our data indicate that biogenic sulfide production was a confirmation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) removal by bioprecipitation. Nevertheless, pH neutralization and abiotic metal precipitation that occurred in the limestone pre-column, significantly contributed to heavy metal immobilization [30]. For that reason, the limestone in the bed reactor should be replaced when exhausted [66].…”

Section: Microbial Community Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the presence of a suitable electron-donating substrate, either an organic compound or hydrogen, SBRs catalyze the reduction of sulfate into sulfide. Sulfide anions The pilot-scale sulfate-reducing (SR) bioreactor with a limestone pre-column (Figure 1) was described in a previous study [30]. The volume of the limestone precolumn was 0.40-L and the volume of the biological reactor was 0.49-L. Before starting our research, the system pre-column was packed with fresh and pre-sieved limestone, as recommended by Mendez and coworkers [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The treatment system was fed with a synthetic ARD composed of a basal mineral medium [30] supplemented with sulfate (2000 mg L −1 ), acetate as an electron donor and an organic carbon source with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 2500 mg COD L −1 , Cu(II) (15 mg L −1 ) and Zn(II) (15 mg L −1 ). The medium pH was adjusted to 2.7 by adding hydrochloric acid (HCl).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During period I, the pH of the influent was not modified, while in periods II and III, the influent pH was acidified to a value of 2.7. mg L −1 of Zn(II) was dosed (as ZnCl2). The volumetric loading rate in periods II and averaged 2.8 g acetate-COD L −1 d −1 with an HRT of 2.0 ± 0.37 d. For preparation of synthe ARD, concentrations of Cu(II) and Zn(II) were selected to simulate the metal concent tions found in real ARD collected in mining zones in Ecuador [30]. Influent and efflu samples were sampled and analyzed weekly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of Microbial Communities during the Removal of Copper and Zinc in a Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactor with a Limestone Pre-Column System

Zambrano-Romero

Ramirez-Villacis

Trueba

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Biological treatment using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is a promising approach to remediate acid rock drainage (ARD). Our purpose was to assess the performance of a sequential system consisting of a limestone bed filter followed by a sulfate-reducing bioreactor treating synthetic ARD for 375 days and to evaluate changes in microbial composition. The treatment system was effective in increasing the pH of the ARD from 2.7 to 7.5 and removed total Cu(II) and Zn(II) concentrations by up to 99.8% and 99.9%, respectively. The presence of sulfate in ARD promoted sulfidogenesis and changed the diversity and structure of the microbial communities. Methansarcina spp. was the most abundant amplicon sequence variant (ASV); however, methane production was not detected. Biodiversity indexes decreased over time with the bioreactor operation, whereas SRB abundance remained stable. Desulfobacteraceae, Desulfocurvus, Desulfobulbaceae and Desulfovibrio became more abundant, while Desulfuromonadales, Desulfotomaculum and Desulfobacca decreased. Geobacter and Syntrophobacter were enriched with bioreactor operation time. At the beginning, ASVs with relative abundance <2% represented 65% of the microbial community and 21% at the end of the study period. Thus, the results show that the microbial community gradually lost diversity while the treatment system was highly efficient in remediating ARD.

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Section: Microbial Community Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microbial Community Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Dynamics of Microbial Communities during the Removal of Copper and Zinc in a Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactor with a Limestone Pre-Column System

Zambrano-Romero

Ramirez-Villacis

Trueba

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Attenuation of acid rock drainage by stimulating sulfur-reducing bacteria

et al. 2023

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Iron-sulfide minerals found in shale formations are stable under anaerobic conditions. However, in the presence of oxygen and water, acid-loving chemolithotrophic bacteria can transform the iron-sulfide minerals into a toxic solution of sulfuric acid and dissolved iron and minerals known as acid rock drainage (ARD). The objective of this study was to disrupt chemolithotrophic bacteria responsible for ARD using chemical treatments and to foster an environment favorable for competing microorganisms to attenuate the biologically induced ARD. Chemical treatments were injected into flow-through microcosms consisting of 501 g of pyrite-rich shale pieces inoculated with ARD bacteria. Three treatments were tested in the microcosms: (1) a sodium hydroxide-bleach mix, (2) a sodium lactate solution, and (3) a sodium lactate-soy infant formula mix. The effectiveness of the treatments was assessed by monitoring pH, dissolved iron, and other geochemical constituents in the discharge waters. The optimal treatment was a sequential injection of 1.5 g sodium hydroxide, followed by 0.75 g lactate and 1.5 g soy formula dissolved in 20 mL water. The pH of the discharge water rose to 6.0 within 10 days, dissolved iron concentrations dropped below 1 mg/L, the median alkalinity increased to 98 mg/L CaCO3, and sulfur-reducing and slime-producing bacteria populations were stimulated. The ARD attenuating benefits of this treatment were still evident after 231 days. Other treatments provided a number of ARD attenuating effects but were tempered by problems such as high phosphate concentrations, short longevity, or other shortcomings. The results of these laboratory microcosm experiments were promising for the attenuation of ARD. Additional investigations and careful selection of treatment methods will be needed for field application.

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Mathematical modeling of methane production and sulfate reduction in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors: Calibration, validation and prediction of reciprocal effects

Shi

Liu

et al. 2021

Environmental Technology & Innovation

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Treatment of acid rock drainage using a sulphate-reducing bioreactor with a limestone precolumn

Cited by 8 publications

References 44 publications

Dynamics of Microbial Communities during the Removal of Copper and Zinc in a Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactor with a Limestone Pre-Column System

Dynamics of Microbial Communities during the Removal of Copper and Zinc in a Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactor with a Limestone Pre-Column System

Attenuation of acid rock drainage by stimulating sulfur-reducing bacteria

Mathematical modeling of methane production and sulfate reduction in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors: Calibration, validation and prediction of reciprocal effects

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