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Concerns with Passive Anaerobic Bioreactors for Selenium Removal from Coal Slurry Liquid Wastes

Problemas de los biorreactores anaerobios pasivos para la eliminación del selenio de los residuos líquidos de lodos de carbón

标题: 用于煤桨废液脱硒的被动厌氧生物反应器研究

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Abstract

Passive anaerobic bioreactors (PABs) are flow-through trenches filled with plant substrates that serve as energy and carbon sources for bacteria that carry out water treatment processes. In this study, the effectiveness of PABs to bioreduce selenate to insoluble Se (0) and improve the water quality of coal slurry impoundment liquid (CSL) was evaluated for seven months in bench-scale PABs containing four types of substrates with elemental carbon: nitrogen ratios (C:N) ranging from 78 to 837. Selenate was rapidly reduced from 0.6 to 0.05 mg/L in 15 days in PABs containing intermediate C:N substrates (Miscanthus and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)) but not in PABs containing low or high C:N substrates (Timothy-hay (Phleum pratense) and hardwood chips). Nitrate was rapidly reduced from 10 to < 1 mg N/L in 15 days in all PABs, but nitrate was only partially denitrified to nitrous oxide in PABs containing low and high C:N substrates due to strongly acidic conditions that inhibited nitrous oxide reductase. In all of the PABs, leaching and anaerobic decomposition of substrates released high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, phosphorus, and several metals, greatly exceeding guideline concentrations. It is strongly recommended that PAB effluent quality be considered before implementing this technology for the treatment of mine water or any other type of wastewater intended for release to natural water bodies.

Resumen

Los biorreactores anaerobios pasivos (PAB) son canales de flujo continuo llenas de sustratos vegetales que sirven como fuentes de energía y carbono para las bacterias que llevan a cabo los procesos de tratamiento del agua. En este estudio, se evaluó durante siete meses la eficacia de los PAB para la biorreducción de selenato a Se insoluble(0) y la mejora de la calidad del agua de los líquidos de los diques de lodos de carbón (CSL) en PAB a escala de banco que contenían cuatro tipos de sustratos con proporciones de carbono elemental:nitrógeno (C:N) que oscilaban entre 78 y 837. El selenato se redujo rápidamente de 0,6 a 0,05 mg/L en 15 días en PABs que contenían sustratos C:N intermedios (Miscanthus y pasto varilla (Panicum virgatum)) pero no en PABs que contenían sustratos C:N bajos o altos (Timothy-hay (Phleum pratense) y virutas de madera dura). El nitrato se redujo rápidamente de 10 a <1 mg N/L en 15 días en todos los PABs, pero el nitrato sólo se desnitrificó parcialmente a óxido nitroso en los PABs que contenían sustratos de bajo y alto C:N debido a las condiciones fuertemente ácidas que inhibieron la óxido nitroso reductasa. En todos los PABs, la lixiviación y la descomposición anaeróbica de los sustratos liberaron altas concentraciones de carbono orgánico disuelto, fósforo y varios metales, superando ampliamente las concentraciones guía. Se recomienda encarecidamente tener en cuenta la calidad de los efluentes de los PABs antes de aplicar esta tecnología para el tratamiento de las aguas de mina o de cualquier otro tipo de aguas residuales destinadas a ser vertidas en masas de agua naturales.

摘 要

被动厌氧生物反应器 (PABs) 是—种填满植物基质的流通渠, 能为水处理过程中的细菌提供能量源及碳源. 本次研究在含有四种基底且碳氮元素比率 (C:N) 在78至837之间的小型被动厌氧生物反应器中, 对PABs生物还原硒酸盐至不溶性硒Se (0), 改善煤浆蓄水液 (CSL) 水质的效果进行了7个月的评估. 在含有中度碳氮比基质 (芒草和柳枝稷草) 的PABs中, 硒的含量在15天内从0.6mg/L迅速降至0.05mg/L; 但在含有低度或高度碳氮比基质 (猫尾草和硬木屑) 的PABs中则没有. 在所有PABs中, 硝酸盐在15天内从10mg N/L迅速降至<1 mg N/L; 但在含有低度或高度碳氮比基质的PABs中, 由于强酸环境抑制了—氧化二氮还原酶, 硝酸盐仅部分脱氮为—氧化二氮. 在所有PABs中, 基质的浸出和厌氧分解释放出的高浓度溶解有机碳, 磷和几种金属, 大大超过了指导浓度. 强烈建议在采用该技术处理矿井水或任何其他类型的排放到自然水体的废水之前, 要考虑PABs的出水水质.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [EMD], upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful for the graduate student assistantship and research support to MDAM from the University of Kentucky Plant and Soil Sciences Department. The authors also greatly appreciate technical support from Tami Smith and Megan Combs.

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  1. N-122 Agricultural Science Center, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Elisa M. D’Angelo, M. D. Anik Mahmud & Jason M. Unrine

  2. Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University of Kentucky, 233 Mining and Mineral Resources Building, Lexington, KY, USA

    Jason M. Unrine

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  1. Elisa M. D’Angelo
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Correspondence to Elisa M. D’Angelo.

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D’Angelo, E.M., Mahmud, M.D.A. & Unrine, J.M. Concerns with Passive Anaerobic Bioreactors for Selenium Removal from Coal Slurry Liquid Wastes. Mine Water Environ 42, 40–49 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-023-00921-x

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