Removal of Heavy Metals from Acid Mine Drainage Using Sulfate Reducing Bacteria

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SRB(Sulfate Reducing Bacteria) converts sulfate into sulfide using an organic carbon source as the electron donor. The sulfide formed precipitates the various metals present in the AMD (Acid Mine Drainage). This study is the fundamental research on heavy metal removal from AMD using SRB. Two completely mixed anaerobic reactors were operated for cultivation of SRB at the temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ and anaerobic batch reactors were used to evaluate the effects of carbon source, COD/sulfate($SO_4^=$) ratio and alkalinity on sulfate reduction rate and heavy metal removal efficiency. AMD used in this study was characterized by low pH 3.0 and 1000mg/l of sulfate and dissolved high concentration of heavy metals such as iron, cadmium, copper, zinc and lead. It was found that glucose was an organic carbon source better than acetate as the electron donor of SRB for sulfate reduction in AMD. Amount of sulfate reduction maximized at the COD(glucose)/sulfate ratio of 0.5 in the influent and then removal efficiencies of heavy metals were 97.5% of Cu, 100% of Pb, 100% of Cr, 49% of Mn, 98% of Zn, 100% Cd and 92.4% of Fe. Although sulfate reduction results in an increase in the alkalinity of the reactor, alkalinity of 1000mg/1 (as $CaCo_3$) should be should be added continuously to the anaerobic reactor in order to remove heavy metals from AMD.