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Influence of Organic Carbon Sources on Metal Removal from Mine Impacted Water Using Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Bioreactors in Cold Climates

Einfluss der organischen Kohlenstoffquelle bei der bakteriellen Sulfatreduktion in Bioreaktoren auf die Metallabreicherung bergbaubeeinflusster Wässer in kalten Klimaten

Influencia de las fuentes de carbono sobre la remoción de metales en agua impactada por la actividad minera utilizando biorreactores con bacterias sulfato reductoras en climas fríos

有机碳源对硫酸盐还原反应器寒冷季节去除矿井水金属的影响

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Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major environmental challenge for the mining industry in northern climates. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to test various simple and complex carbon sources available in the Yukon as electron donors for sulfate reduction to allow the subsequent removal of Cd and Zn from a Yukon AMD. The 1 L capacity bioreactors were monitored biweekly at 5 °C. After 162 days, a diminution of both total organic carbon and sulfate concentrations was observed in all bioreactors. A long adaptation period was necessary before consumption of the carbon source started, which might be due to the cold temperature. Simple organic sources of carbon (methanol and ethylene glycol) and complex organic sources of carbon (potato oil, brewery residue, peat, and straw) were used to support SRB growth. Methanol and ethylene glycol led to a diminution of sulfate concentrations of 71.2 and 36.9%, respectively, while the decrease of sulfate concentrations was limited to 13.8 and 5.3% when using peat and straw, respectively.

Zusammenfassung

Saures Bergbauwasser (AMD) stellt ein großes Umweltproblem für die Bergbauindustrie in nördlichen Klimaten dar. In Laborexperimenten wurden verschiedene einfache und komplexe Kohlenstoffquellen als Elektronendonatoren für die Sulfatreduktion getestet, um anschließend Cd und Zn zu entfernen. Der verwendete Bioreaktor hatte ein Fassungs-vermögen von 1 L, wurde bei einer Temperatur von 5°C betrieben und vierzehntägig überwacht. In allen Bioreaktoren wurde nach 162 Tagen sowohl eine Minderung des gesamten organischen Kohlenstoffs als auch der Sulfatkonzentration beobachtet. Auf Grund der kalten Temperaturen war eine lange Anpassungszeit notwendig, bevor der Kohlenstoffabbau begann. Um das Wachstum der sulfatreduzierenden Bakterien zu unterstützen, wurden einfache (Methanol und Ethylenglykol) und komplexe organische Kohlenstoffquellen (Kartoffelöl, Treber, Torf und Stroh), genutzt. Methanol und Ethylenglykol führten zu einer Sulfatreduktion von 71,2 bzw. 36,9 %. Demgegenüber war die Sulfatreduktion bei der Verwendung von Torf und Stroh auf 13,8 bzw. 5,3 % begrenzt.

Resumen

El drenaje ácido de la mina (AMD) es un desafío ambiental importante para la industria minera en climas nórdicos. Se realizaron experimentos a escala de laboratorio para probar varias fuentes de carbono simples y complejas disponibles en Yukon como donantes de electrones para la reducción de sulfato para permitir la posterior eliminación de Cd y Zn de un AMD de Yukon. Los biorreactores de 1 L de capacidad se controlaron cada dos semanas a 5 °C. Después de 162 días, se observó una disminución de las concentraciones totales de carbono orgánico y sulfato en todos los biorreactores. Se necesitó un largo período de adaptación antes de que comenzara el consumo de la fuente de carbono, lo que podría deberse a la baja temperatura. Se utilizaron fuentes orgánicas simples de carbono (metanol y etilenglicol) y fuentes orgánicas complejas de carbono (aceite de patata, residuos de cervecería, turba y paja) para permitir el crecimiento de SRB. El metanol y el etilenglicol permitieron una disminución de las concentraciones de sulfato de 71,2 y 36,9%, respectivamente, mientras que la disminución de las concentraciones de sulfato fue de sólo 13,8 y 5,3% cuando se usaron turba y paja, respectivamente.

抽象

酸性矿井废水是北方气候区采矿工业不得不面临的主要环境挑战。采用室内试验方法研究了Yukon地区各种简单和复杂的硫酸盐还原电子供体碳源,以用去除Yukon酸性废水中镉和锌。在5°C试验条件下,每两星期监测一次1L生物反应器。直至试验进行162天后,才观察到反应器内总有机碳和硫酸盐浓度减小。碳源消耗开始之前的适应期比较长,应该是由寒冷的温度引起。简易碳源(甲醇和乙二醇)和复杂有机碳源(马铃薯油、酿酒残渣、泥炭和稻草)都能维持硫酸盐还原菌生长。甲醇和乙二醇分别使硫酸盐浓度减少71.2和36.9%,而泥炭和稻草分别硫酸盐浓度减少不超过13.8 and 5.3%。

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Acknowledgements

Sincere thanks are extended to the MITACS and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for their financial contributions and to Alexco for the technical support provided to this study.

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  1. Institut national de la recherche scientifique (Centre Eau, Terre et Environnement), Université du Québec, 490 rue de la Couronne, Quebec, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada

    Guillaume Nielsen, Lucie Coudert, Jean Francois Blais & Guy Mercier

  2. Yukon Research Center, 500 College Dr, PO Box 2799, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 5K4, Canada

    Amelie Janin

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  1. Guillaume Nielsen
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  2. Lucie Coudert
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  3. Amelie Janin
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  4. Jean Francois Blais
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Correspondence to Jean Francois Blais.

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Nielsen, G., Coudert, L., Janin, A. et al. Influence of Organic Carbon Sources on Metal Removal from Mine Impacted Water Using Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Bioreactors in Cold Climates. Mine Water Environ 38, 104–118 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-018-00580-3

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