Abstract
As biotechnologies emerge from laboratories into mainstream application, the benefits they offer are judged against competing technologies and business criteria. Bio remediation technologies have passed this test and are now widely used for the remediation of contaminated soils and groundwaters. Bio remediation includes several distinct techniques that are used for the treatment of excavated soil and includes other techniques that are used for in situ applications. They play an important and growing role in the mining industry for cost-effective waste management and site remediation. Most applications have been for petroleum contaminants, but advances continue to be made in the treatment of more difficult organic and inorganic species. This paper discusses the role of biotechnologies in remediation and pollution control from a mining-industry perspective. Several case studies are presented, including the land application of oily wastewater from maintenance workshops, the composting of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and sludges, the bioventing of hydrocarbon solvents, the intrinsic bioremediation of diesel hydrocarbons, the biotreatment of cyanide in water from a gold mine, and the removal of manganese from acidic mine drainage.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bender, J., Gould, J.P., Vatcharapijarn, Y., Young, J.S., and Phillips, P., 1994a, “Removal of zinc and manganese from contaminated water with cyanobacteria mats,” Water Environment Research, Vol. 66, No. 5, pp. 679–683.
Bender, J., Lee, R.F., and Phillips, P., 1995, “Uptake and transformation of metals and metalloids by microbial mats and their use in bioremediation,” J. Industrial Microbiology, Vol. 14, pp. 113–118.
Bender, J., Rodriguez-Eaton, S., Ekanemesang, U.M., and Phillips, P., 1994b, “Characterisation of metal-binding bioflocculants produced by the cyanobacterial component of mixed microbial mats,” Applied & Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 60, No. 7, pp. 2311–2315.
Berger, H., 1937, “Die Biologie der Eisenbakterien (Die Eisenfallung),” cited in Hedberg, T. and Wahlberg, T.A., 1998, “Upgrading of waterworks with a new biooxidation process for removal of manganese and iron,” Water Sci. Tech., Vol. 37, No. 9, pp. 121–126.
Brant, D.L., and Ziemkiewicz, P.F., 1997, “Passive Removal of Manganese from Acid Mine Drainage” Poster presentation at the Fourth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, May 30–June 6.
Cantafio, A.W., Hagen, K.D., Lewis, G.E., Bledsoe, T.L., Nunan, K.M., and Macy, J.M., 1996, “Pilot scale selenium bioremediation of San Joaquin drainage water with Thauera selenatis,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 62, No. 9, pp. 3298–3303.
Davis-Hoover, W.J., 1997, “Reduced bioavailability of lead by a lead-sequestering soil bacterium” In situ and On site Bioremediation, Vol. 3, pp. 385–390, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH.
Duggan, L.A., Wildeman, T.R., and Updegraff, D.M., 1993, “Abatement of Manganese in Coal Mine Drainages Through the Use of Constructed Wetlands,” US Bureau of Mines, Mining Research Contract, J021002, January.
Finnegan, I., Joersien, S., Abbot, L., Smit, F., and Raubenheimer, H.G., 1991, “Identification of and characterisation of an Acinetobacter sp. capable of assimilation of a range of cyano-metal complexes, free cyanide ions and simple organic nitriles,” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 36, pp. 142–144.
Firth, I.C., and van der Linden, J., 1997, “ARD Control at P.T. Kelian Equatorial Mining,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, May 30–June 6. Vol. III, pp. 1231–1250.
Goodroad, L., Bender, J., Phillips, P., Gould, J., Hater, G., and Burrow, B., 1995, “Use of constructed mixed microbial mats for landfill leachate treatment,” In Proceedings of the 18th Madison Waste Conference — Municipal Industrial Waste: Where are we Going,” Madison, WI, pp. 235–247.
Gorby, Y.A., and Lovley, D.R., 1992, “Enzymatic uranium precipitation,” Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 205–207.
Groudev, S.N., 1997, “Microbial detoxification of heavy metals in soil,” In situ and On site Bioremediation, Vol. 3, p. 409, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH.
Mays, M.K., Sikora, L.J., Hatton, J.W.E, and Lucia, S.M., 1989, Biocycle, Vol. 30, pp. 298–300.
Miller, F.C., 1992, Soil Microbial Ecology — Applications in Agricultural and Environmental Management, F.B. Metting, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, pp. 515–544.
Mouchet, P., 1986, “Algae reactions to mineral and organic micropollutants, Ecological consequences and possibilities for industrial-scale application: a review,” Water Research, Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 399–412.
Mulvey, P., and Pittman, C., 1996, “Treatment recovery and disposal technology: Bioremediation techniques for service station facilities,” Proceedings of 3rd National Hazardous and Solid Waste Convention, Sydney, Australia, pp. 439–446.
Nealson, K.H., Tebo, B.M., and Rosson, R.A., 1988, “Occurrence and mechanisms of microbial oxidation of manganese,” Advances in Applied Microbiology, Vol. 33, pp. 279–318.
Peck, P.C., Rhodes, S.H., Anderson, B.N., and Henkler, R.D., 1996, “Bioremediation of solvent hydrocarbons. Laboratory and in situ field studies,” Proc. 5th World Congress of Chemical engineering, San Diego, July, Vol. 3, pp. 737–742.
Phillips, P., Bender, J., Simms, R., Rodriguez-Eaton, S., and Britt, C., 1995, “Manganese removal from acid coal-mine drainage by a pond containing green algae and microbial mat,” Water Science Technology, Vol. 31, No. 12, pp. 161–170.
Simpkin, T.J., Walter, D., and Doesburg, J., 1992, Proceedings of the 85th Annual Air & Waste Management Conference, Kansas City, MO, paper No. 92–27.06, June.
Stuetz, R.M., Greene, A.C., and Madgwick, J.C., 1996, “The potential use of manganese oxidation in treating metal effluents,” Minerals Engineering, Vol. 9, No. 12, pp. 1253–1261.
Taddeo, A., Findlay, M., Dooley-Danna, M., and Fogel, S., 1989, Biotreatment, pp. 57–62.
Thomas, J.M., Ward, C.H., Raymond, R.L., Wilson, J.T., and Loehr, R.C., 1992, “Bioremediation,” Encyclopaedia of Microbiology, Vol. 1, Academic Press.
Truex, M.J., Peyton, B.M., Valentine, N.B., and Gorby, Y.A., 1997, “Kinetics of U(VI) reduction by a dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacterium under non-growth conditions,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 55, No. 3, pp. 490–496.
Watzlaf, G.R., 1985, “Comparative tests to remove manganese from acid mine drainage,” In Control of Acid Mine Drainages, Technology transfer seminar, US Bureau of Mines, IC 9027, pp. 41–47.
Wildeman, T.R., Gusek, J.J., Cevaal, J., Whiting, K., and Scheuring, J., 1995, “Biotreatment of acid rock drainage at a gold mining operation,” In Bioremediation of Inorganics, R.E. Hinchee, J.L. Means and D.R. Burris, eds., pp. 141–148, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH.
Woodward, R.E., 1990, USATHAMA Installation Restoration Program Environmental Technology Development, Report No. TCN 89363.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Nonmeeting paper number 99–309. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME prior to Nov. 30, 2000.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bernoth, L., Firth, I., McAllister, P. et al. Biotechnologies for remediation and pollution control in the mining industry. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 17, 105–111 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402836
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402836