ALBERT

Description:    The effectiveness of a passive flow sulfate-reducing bioreactor processing acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from an abandoned coal mine in Southern Illinois was evaluated using geochemical and microbial community analysis 10 months post bioreactor construction. The results indicated that the treatment system was successful in both raising the pH of the AMD from 3.09 to 6.56 and in lowering the total iron level by 95.9%. While sulfate levels did decrease by 67.4%, the level post treatment (1153 mg/l) remained above recommended drinking water levels. Stimulation of biological sulfate reduction was indicated by a +2.60‰ increase in δ 34 S content of the remaining sulfate in the water post-treatment. Bacterial community analysis targeting 16S rRNA and dsrAB genes indicated that the pre-treated samples were dominated by bacteria related to iron-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria , while the post-treated water directly from the reactor outflow was dominated by sequences related to sulfur-oxidizing Epsilonproteobacteria and complex carbon degrading Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phylums. Analysis of the post-treated water, prior to environmental release, revealed that the community shifted back to predominantly iron-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria . DsrA analysis implied limited diversity in the sulfate-reducing population present in both the bioreactor outflow and oxidation pond samples. These results support the use of passive flow bioreactors to lower the acidity, metal, and sulfate levels present in the AMD at the Tab-Simco mine, but suggest modifications of the system are necessary to both stimulate sulfate-reducing bacteria and inhibit sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9520-y Authors Andrew S. Burns, Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Mail Code 6508, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Charles W. Pugh, Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Mail Code 6508, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Yosief T. Segid, Department of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Paul T. Behum, Environmental Resources and Policy Program, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Liliana Lefticariu, Department of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Kelly S. Bender, Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Mail Code 6508, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820