A Fixed Bed Pervious Concrete Anaerobic Bioreactor for Biological Sulphate Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage Using Simple Organic Matter

Sandisiwe Khanyisa Thisani, Daramy Vandi Von Kallon and Patrick Byrne
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Sandisiwe Khanyisa Thisani: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannebsurg 2006, South Africa
Daramy Vandi Von Kallon: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannebsurg 2006, South Africa
Patrick Byrne: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2QP, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: The development of low-operational-cost and low-operational-complexity active sulphate (SO 4 ) reducing bioremediation for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is an ongoing pursuit towards sustainable mining. This study introduces a fixed bed pervious concrete anaerobic bioreactor as a second stage AMD remediation process. The study investigated the pH self-regulation capabilities, SO 4 remediation capabilities and the rate limiting parameters of the bioreactor using glucose as an organic matter source. The AMD was pre-treated using a permeable reactive barrier. A 21-day trial comprised of an increase in the SO 4 loading rate while reducing the organic loading rate was undertaken to identify performance limiting conditions. A daily average SO 4 concentration reduction rate of 55.2% was achieved over the initial 13 days of the experiments. The study found that a COD to SO 4 ratio and VFA to alkalinity ratio below 5:1 and 0.5:1 respectively were performance limiting. The bioreactor was capable of self-regulating pH within the neutral range of 6.5 and 7.5. The study findings indicate that the bioreactor design can reduce operational costs and operational complexity of active AMD bioremediation.

Keywords: Acid Mine Drainage (AMD); anaerobic digestion; bioreactor; biological sulphate reduction; bioremediation; biological treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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