Performance of Mesocosm Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactors for Treating Acid Mine Drainage in New Zealand

Water chemistry was monitored monthly for ten months from an acid mine drainage (AMD) seep emanating at Stockton Coal Mine within the Mangatini watershed in New Zealand. Metal concentrations of the seep water were Fe (4.31-146 mg/L), Al (7.43-76.7 mg/L), Cu (0.0201-0.0669 mg/L), Ni (0.0629-0.261 mg/L), Zn (0.380-1.39 mg/L), Cd (0.000540-0.00134 mg/L) and Pb (0.0049-0.0056 mg/L), pH was 2.49-3.34 and total acidity (pH 8.3) was 78.5-626 mg/L as CaCO3. Water chemistry signature prompted laboratory mesocosm studies measuring the effectiveness of sulfate-reducing bioreactors (SRBRs) for generating alkalinity and sequestering metals. Alkaline materials utilized in the SRBRs included industrial waste products such as mussel shells, nodulated stack dust (NSD) derived from the cement industry, and limestone. Organic substrate materials included post peel, a by-product from fence post manufacture, Pinus radiata bark and compost. Seven SRBRs comprised of varying substrate mixes received aerated AMD for nearly four months. AMD was sourced from the pond that collected the seep water. The SRBR containing NSD successfully removed all metals, but effluent was caustic with pH>9. Bioreactors consisting of 20-30% mussel shells were most successful at immobilizing metals and generating circumneutral effluent. Systems containing mussel shells sequestered more than 0.8 moles of metals/m3 of substrate/day at stable operating conditions and yielded effluent concentrations (removal efficiencies) of 0.120-3.46 mg/L Fe (96.5-99.8%), 0.0170-0.277 mg/L Al (99.5-99.9%), 99.7->99.9%), 99.7%), 98.3->98.9%) and <0.0001-0.0001 Pb (99.5-