Performance of microbial community dominated by Bacillus spp. in acid mine drainage remediation systems: A focus on the high removal efficiency of SO42-, Al3+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Pb2+, and Sr2+

Abstract

A consortium of microbial community was used for the treatment of acid mine drainage wastewater laden with sulphate and heavy metals. The wastewater was treated in an anaerobic continuously stirred tank bioreactor. The microbial community activity increased the pH from 5.6 to 6.5, and improved sulphate removal up to 85% from an initial sulphate concentration of 8080 mg SO42−/L in a continuous mode, following enrichment for 21 d. The maximum heavy metal removal percentage was observed for Cd (98%), Al (97%), Mn (95%), Pb (94%), Sr (94%) and Cu (91%). The microbial community showed synergy between strictly anaerobic and facultative Firmicutes sp., which were responsible for the bioreactor performance. The biochemical reaction indicated the microbial community has a wider range of substrates dominated by metallo-aminopeptidases.

Keywords

• Acid mine drainage
• Aminopeptidases
• Bacillus spp.
• Sulphate reduction
• Heavy metal removal