Mine wastewater treatment using Phalaris arundinacea plant material hydrolyzate as substrate for sulfate-reducing bioreactor.
A low-cost substrate, Phalaris arundinacea was acid hydrolyzed (Reed Canary Grass hydrolyzate, RCGH) and used to support sulfate reduction. The experiments included batch bottle assays (35 degrees C) and a fluidized-bed bioreactor (FBR) experiment (35 degrees C) treating synthetic mine wastewater. Dry plant material was also tested as substrate in batch bottle assays. The batch assays showed sulfate reduction with the studied substrates, producing 540 and 350mgL(-1) dissolved sulfide with RCGH and dry plant material, respectively. The soluble sugars of the RCGH presumably fermented into volatile fatty acids and hydrogen, which served as electron donors for sulfate reducing bacteria. A sulfate reduction rate of 2.2-3.3gL(-1)d(-1) was obtained in the FBR experiment. The acidic influent was neutralized and the highest metal precipitation rates were 0.84g FeL(-1)d(-1) and 15mg ZnL(-1)d(-1). The sulfate reduction rate in the FBR was limited by the acetate oxidation rate of the sulfate-reducing bacteria.
Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 541, FIN-33101 Tampere, Finland.
Aino-Maija
AM
Lakaniemi
Laura M
LM
Nevatalo
Anna H
AH
Kaksonen
Jaakko A
JA
Puhakka
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008906:Mining; D031783:Phalaris / Q000378:metabolism*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D013431:Sulfates; D014873:Water Pollutants