Biological manganese removal from mine drainage in a fixed-bed bioreactor at pilot-scale

Authors: Jacob, J; Raignault, I; Battaglia-Brunet, F; Mailhan-Muxi, C; Engevin, J; Djemil, M

Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1915_72_Jacob

Cite As:
Jacob, J, Raignault, I, Battaglia-Brunet, F, Mailhan-Muxi, C, Engevin, J & Djemil, M 2019, 'Biological manganese removal from mine drainage in a fixed-bed bioreactor at pilot-scale ', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2019: Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 911-920, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1915_72_Jacob

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
The closed underground fluorspar Burg mine (Rio Tinto France) produces a near-neutral mine drainage (pH 6.3) with high concentrations of iron and manganese (14 mg.L-1 and 12 mg.L-1, respectively). Average flow rate is 27 m3.h-1. A passive water treatment is being developed by BRGM, the French geosurvey to replace the current lime treatment by a more environmentally friendly, economical and lower sludge producing technology. Different set-up and operating conditions were investigated at laboratory scale and are still currently being optimised at pilot-scale. The pilot consists of a 1 m3 settling tank, in which iron (Fe2+) is oxidised and iron hydroxides are settled, followed by an upflow 1 m3 fixed-bed bioreactor filled with a mixture of limestone and pyrolusite (MnO2) and supplied with air, in which manganese precipitates. The fixed-bed was inoculated with sludges coming from two passive mine drainage treatment plants in which some manganese removal occurs. Residence time ranged from 50 h to 20 h. Results are promising: maximum removal rates were 99% for both iron and manganese. Iron and manganese concentrations were decreased under the 1 mg.L-1 standard. Iron removal rate in the settling tank varied from 80 μg.L-1.h-1 to 160 μg.L-1.h-1. Manganese removal rate in the bioreactor ranged from 130 μ.L-1.h-1 to 350 μ.L-1.h-1. Surprisingly, up to 38% of the manganese was removed in the settling tank at low residence time. Residence time and aeration rate are still being optimised and clogging is being assessed. Currently, the pilot has been operating for 6 months and will continue to operate for another 6 months.

Keywords: mine drainage, passive water treatment, iron, manganese, bioreactor

References:
Barboza, NR, Guerra‐Sá, R & Leão, VA 2016, ‘Mechanisms of manganese bioremediation by microbes: an overview’, Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, vol. 91, no. 11, pp. 2733–2739.
Bender, J, Gould, JP, Vatcharapijarn, Y, Young, JS & Phillips, P 1994, ‘Removal of zinc and manganese from contaminated water with cyanobacteria mats’, Water Environment Research, vol. 66, no. 5, pp. 679–683.
Burdige, DJ, Dhakar, SP & Nealson, KH 1992, ‘Effects of manganese oxide mineralogy on microbial and chemical manganese reduction’, Geomicrobiology Journal, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 27–48.
Duarte, RA & Ladeira, AC 2011, ‘Study of manganese removal from mining effluent’, TR Rüde, A Freund & C Wolfersdorfer (eds), Proceedings of the 11th International Mine Water Association Congress - Mine Water-Managing the Challenges, International Mine Water Association, Aachen, pp. 297–300.
Hedin, RS, Nairn, RW & Kleinmann, RL 1994, Passive treatment of coal mine drainage, United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Washington DC.
Howe, P, Malcolm, H & Dobson, S 2004, Manganese and its compounds: environmental aspects, Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 63, World Health Organization, Geneva.
Johnson, KL & Younger, PL 2005, ‘Rapid manganese removal from mine waters using an aerated packed-bed bioreactor’, Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 987–993.
Kirby, CS & Cravotta III, CA 2005, ‘Net alkalinity and net acidity 2: practical considerations’, Applied Geochemistry, vol. 20, issue 10, pp. 1941–1964,
Morgan, B & Lahav, O 2007, ‘The effect of pH on the kinetics of spontaneous Fe (II) oxidation by O2 in aqueous solution–basic principles and a simple heuristic description’, Chemosphere, vol. 68, no. 11, pp. 2080–2084,
Neculita, CM & Rosa, E 2018, ‘A review of the implications and challenges of manganese removal from mine drainage’, Chemosphere, vol. 214, pp. 491–510,
Sapsford, D, Barnes, A, Dey, M, Williams, K, Jarvis, A & Younger, P 2007, ‘Low footprint passive mine water treatment: field demonstration and application’, Mine Water and the Environment, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 243–250.
Sikora, FJ, Behrends, LL, Brodie, GA & Taylor, HN 2000, ‘Design criteria and required chemistry for removing manganese in acid mine drainage using subsurface flow wetlands’, Water Environment Research, vol. 72, no. 5, pp. 536–544.
Stumm, W & Morgan, JJ 2012, Aquatic Chemistry: Chemical Equilibria and Rates in Natural Waters, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken.
Tan, H, Zhang, G, Heaney, PJ, Webb, SM & Burgos, WD 2010, ‘Characterization of manganese oxide precipitates from Appalachian coal mine drainage treatment systems’, Applied Geochemistry, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 389–399,
United States Department of Health and Human Services 2012, Toxicological profile for manganese, The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2014, Reference Guide to Treatment Technologies for Mining-influenced Water, EPA 542-R-14-001.
Vail, WJ & Riley, R 2000, ‘The pyrolusite process: a bioremediation process for the abatement of acid mine drainage’, Green Lands, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 40–46.




© Copyright 2024, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au