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Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Acid Mine Drainage to the Activated Sludge Process

Akute und chronische Toxizität von saurem Grubenwasser auf das Belebtschlammverfahren

Toxicidad aguda y crónica del drenaje ácido de minas al proceso de barros activados

酸性矿山废水对活性污泥的急性和慢性毒理研究

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Abstract

The combined treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) and municipal wastewater using the activated sludge process is an innovative approach to AMD remediation. The toxicity of synthetic AMD to activated sludge was evaluated using oxygen uptake rate (OUR) inhibition tests, which showed that activated sludge can withstand high proportions of AMD (EC50 19–52% AMD by volume). The EC50 values of municipal and industrial activated sludges were significantly different (p < 0.05), with municipal sludges exhibiting higher tolerance to AMD. Although the EC50 values for heterotrophic and nitrifying activated sludges were not statistically significantly different, the EC50 values for heterotrophic bacteria were generally higher. Laboratory-based sequencing batch reactors were used to examine the treatability of AMD. Increased concentrations of COD and suspended solids, associated with turbidity and poor floc morphology, were observed in the final effluent after extended AMD loading. Protozoan community structure changed during the AMD loading period, and overall abundance tended to decrease over time. OUR decreased in the AMD-loaded reactors, particularly in the reactor receiving the highest AMD load, indicating reduced biomass activity over the acclimatization period. Results from OUR inhibition tests on the acclimatized activated sludge indicated that over a relatively short timescale (21 days), the activated sludge microbial community can adapt to AMD sufficiently so that shock loads of metals and acidity do not significantly inhibit OUR. These preliminary studies indicate that it is possible to treat AMD successfully in admixture with municipal wastewater using the activated sludge process.

Zusammenfassung

Die gemeinsame Behandlung von saurem Grubenwasser und kommunalem Abwasser durch das Belebtschlammverfahren ist ein innovativer Ansatz in der Grubenwasseraufbereitung. Um die Toxizität des synthetischen sauren Grubenwassers. Auf den Belebtschlamm zu untersuchen, wurde die Hemmung der Sauerstoffaufnahmerate gemessen. Wie das Ergebnis zeigt, verträgt der Belebtschlamm große Mengen an saurem Grubenwasser (EC50: 19–52 vol% saures Grubenwasser). Die EC50 Werte kommunaler und industrieller Belebtschlämme waren signifikant unerschiedlich, wobei kommunaler Schlamm toleranter auf saures Grubenwasser reagiert. Obwohl die EC50 Werte für heterotrophe und nitrifizierende Aktivschlämme statistisch nicht signifikant voneinander abweichen, waren die EC50 Werte für heterotrophe Bakterien im Allgemeinen höher. Mit Hilfe von Batch-Tests im Labormaßstab wurde untersucht, ob sich das Grubenwasser aufbereiten läßt. Nach anhaltender Zugabe von saurem Grubenwasser wurden im Ablauf erhöhte Konzentrationen an CSB und Filterrückstand beobachtet. Dies ging einher mit erhöhter Trübung und schlechter Flockungseigenschaft. Die Zusammensetzung der Protozoen-Gesellschaft veränderte sich während der Zugabe des sauren Grubenwassers und deren Menge verringerte sich im Laufe der Zeit. Insbesondere in dem Reaktor mit der höchsten Belastung an saurem Grubenwasser sank die Sauerstoffaufnahmerate. Dies kann als Hinweis auf eine erniedrigte Aktivität der Biomasse während der Anpassungszeit gesehen werden. Wie die Ergebnisse des Sauerstoffaufnahmetests an dem angepassten Belebtschlamm zeigen, kann sich die mikrobielle Gesellschaft innerhalb einer relative kurzen Zeit (21 Tage) so gut an das Grubenwasser anpassen, das seine kurzzeitige hohe Metall- und Aziditätsfracht die Sauerstoffaufhamerate nicht significant hemmt. Diese vorläufigen Untersuchungen deuten darauf hin, dass es möglich sein sollte, mit dem Belebtschlammverfahren saures Grubenwasser unter Beigabe von kommunalem Abwasser erfolgreich aufzubereiten.

Resúmen

El tratamiento combinado del drenaje de agua de mina (AMD) y las aguas residuales municipales usando el proceso de barros activados, es una aproximación innovadora a la remediación de AMD. La toxicidad de AMD sintético en los barros activados fue evaluada usando ensayos de inhibición de la velocidad de consumo de oxígeno (OUR), mostrando que los barros activados pueden resistir altas proporciones de AMD (EC50 19–52% AMD por volumen). Los valores de EC50 de barros activados municipales e industriales fueron significativamente diferentes (p < 0.05), siendo los primeros más tolerantes al AMD. Aunque los valores de EC50 para barros activados heterotróficos y nitrificantes no fueron estadísticamente diferentes, los valores de EC50 para bacterias heterotróficas fueron generalmente mayores. Se utilizaron reactores batch para examinar la tratabilidad de los AMD. El incremento de las concentraciones de COD y de sólidos suspendidos, asociados con turbidez y una pobre morfología floc, fueron observados en el efluente final después de la carga continua de AMD. La estructura de la comunidad de protozoarios cambió durante el período de carga de AMD, y la abundancia global tendió a decrecer. El OUR decreció en los reactores cargados con AMD particularmente en el reactor que recibió la máxima carga de AMD, indicando la reducción de la actividad de la biomasa durante el período de aclimatización. Los resultados de nuestros ensayos de inhibición de OUR sobre barros activados aclimatizados indicaron que en un tiempo relativamente corto (21 d), la comunidad microbiana de los barros activados puede adaptarse lo suficiente al AMD para que la carga metálica y la acidez del AMD no cause una inhibición significativa del OUR. Estos estudios preliminares indican que debería ser posible tratar los AMD exitosamente usado en procesos de barros activados conjuntamente con aguas residuales.

摘要

利用活性污泥联合处理酸性矿山废水(AMD)和城市生活污水(MWW)是实现酸性矿山废水处理的一种新方法。本文通过氧吸收率(OUR)抑制试验,研究了人工模拟合成酸性矿山废水对活性污泥的毒理,试验结果表明:活性污泥能够承受较高浓度的酸性矿山废水(EC50,即当氧吸收率的抑制比为50%时的酸性矿山废水有效体积浓度,可达19–52%)。城市和工业活性污泥的EC50 值明显不同(p < 0.05%),城市污泥对酸性矿山废水显示出更高的耐受性。虽然异养、硝化的活性污泥的EC50值也无显著差异,但是异养菌的EC50值普遍较高。研究通过实验室顺序批次试验评价了酸性矿山废水的可处理能力。在增大矿山废水负荷之后,废水处理后出流物中的COD和悬浮物浓度呈增加趋势,同时还伴随浊度增大、絮状物形态不佳等现象。 随着矿山废水负荷的增大,原生动物群落结构发生了改变,群落总体数量也随之减小。在加入酸性矿山废水负荷之后,反应装置中氧吸收率降低,尤其在酸性矿山废水负荷达最大时,反应装置中的氧吸收率降低尤为明显,表明反应装置中的生物在适应试验中数量已经减少。适应性活性污泥的氧吸收率抑制试验结果表明,即使在相对较短的时间内(21天),活性污泥的生物群落仍能够充分适应酸性矿山废水环境,金属和酸性等毒性负荷的突然增加也不至于明显抑制氧吸收率。上述基础研究表明:利用活性污泥联合处理城市污水和酸性矿山废水可以成功实现酸性矿山废水的处理。

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Abbreviations

AMD:

Acid mine drainage

ATU:

Allyl thiourea

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

EC50 :

Effective concentration causing 50% inhibition

EPS:

Extracellular polymeric substances

MLSS:

Mixed liquor suspended solids

MWW:

Municipal wastewater

OUR:

Oxygen uptake rate

OURmax :

Maximum oxygen uptake rate

SVI:

Sludge volume index

TSS:

Total suspended solids

WWTP:

Wastewater treatment plant

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Acknowledgments

T.A. Hughes gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (IRCSET) Embark Initiative and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) (grant 08/rfp/enm993). In addition, T.A. Hughes extends sincere appreciation to the personnel at Leixlip, Swords, and Kilcoole WWTPs.

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  1. Water Technology Research Group, Centre for the Environment, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Theresa A. Hughes & N. F. Gray

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Hughes, T.A., Gray, N.F. Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Acid Mine Drainage to the Activated Sludge Process. Mine Water Environ 31, 40–52 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-011-0168-y

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