关键词:
Metal removal
High-throughput sequencing
Microbial community analysis
Mine discharges
Sulfate-reducing bacteria
摘要:
Using box-type pilot-scale bioreactors installed at an abandoned mine site, we investigated the influence of pH, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and ethanol concentration on reactor performance and microbial community during acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment. Bioreactors with 25 h of HRT that were fed 1.04 mM of ethanol at both pH near-neutral and acidic conditions showed sulfate reduction, predominantly by Desulfosporosius- and Desulfovibrio-related sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), that decreased zinc concentrations to less than the Japanese national effluent standard. Under acidic conditions at 12.5 h HRT, the bioreactor showed reducing conditions and effective treatment with a high dominance of Desulfosporosius-related SRB (relative abundance: more than 25%). In contrast, under acidic conditions at 6 h HRT or 0.521 mM ethanol, neither sulfate reduction nor SRB were observed. For striking a balance between ethanol metabolism and sulfate reduction when AMD passes directly through the bioreactor (pH 3.5 was increased to near-neutral values due to the limestone at the top of the reactor), operating conditions of 12.5 h HRT and 1.04 mM ethanol were suitable for maintaining the stable, prolonged operation of the sulfate-reducing bioreactor.