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Long-term performance of a UASB reactor treating acid mine drainage: effects of sulfate loading rate, hydraulic retention time, and COD/SO42− ratio

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Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is among the most serious threats to water and the typical alkali-based treatment costs are high. This study’s main objective was the establishment of a highly efficient biological process using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to treat AMD based on a shorter hydraulic retention time (HRT) and lower organic matter input. The process was evaluated for a long-term operation (739 days) in terms of the influence of HRT (14–24 h), metal addition, sulfate loading rate (0.5–2.6 g SO42− l−1 d−1), and the COD/SO42− ratio (0.67–1.0) using ethanol as the only electron donor at a pH of 4.0. Neutral effluent pH was achieved throughout the time apart from operational modifications. The reduction in HRT from 24 to 16 h and an increase in the sulfate loading rate (SLR) up to 2.25 g SO42− l−1 d−1 improved the sulfate removal to (92.1 ± 1.8)% with 80% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. However, the sulfate reduction was less than 80% when the HRT and SLR was changed to 14 h and 2.6 g SO42− l−1 d−1, respectively. The oxidation of organic matter by sulfate reduction was greater than 50% regardless of the conditions imposed but the use of ethanol to treat AMD was more efficient when either the HRT was 16 h (1.5 g SO42− l−1 d−1) in the presence of Fe, Zn, and Cu or the HRT was 14 h (2.6 g SO42− l−1 d−1) but the COD/SO42− ratio was reduced to 0.67. The fully optimized conditions of the UASB reactor were set at an HRT of 16 h, SLR of 1.5 g SO42− l−1 d−1, and a COD/SO42− ratio of 1.0.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Kenneth Kemner for motivating discussions and enlightening perspectives. The authors also thank CNPq (Process 490210/2012-0 and 444781/2014-5) and FAPEMIG (TEC—APQ-02813-16) for the research funding and scholarship.

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Author notes

  1. Renata Piacentini Rodriguez

    Present address: Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 Cass Avenue, 60439, Lemont, IL, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento e Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (SHS/EESC/USP), Av. Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Mirabelle Perossi Cunha

  2. Laboratório de Biotecnologia Anaeróbia, Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Rodovia José Aurélio Vilela, 11999 (BR 267, Km 533), 37715-400, Poços de Caldas, MG, Brazil

    Rafael Marçal Ferraz, Giselle Patrícia Sancinetti & Renata Piacentini Rodriguez

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  1. Mirabelle Perossi Cunha
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  2. Rafael Marçal Ferraz
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  3. Giselle Patrícia Sancinetti
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  4. Renata Piacentini Rodriguez
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Correspondence to Renata Piacentini Rodriguez.

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Cunha, M.P., Ferraz, R.M., Sancinetti, G.P. et al. Long-term performance of a UASB reactor treating acid mine drainage: effects of sulfate loading rate, hydraulic retention time, and COD/SO42− ratio. Biodegradation 30, 47–58 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-018-9863-8

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