Bioremediation of Acid-Mine Drainage contaminated with acid and heavy metals in coal mine by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

Acid-Mine Drainage (AMD) that releases highly acidic, sulfate, and metals-rich waste is a severe environmental problem, contaminating surface and groundwater as well as soils in coal mining districts in China. In this study, Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) was isolated from the loess polluted by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from coal wastes. The aim of the test is to study the possibility of using SRB for preventing acid and heavy metals pollution from coal wastes, which is considered to be the major environmental problem associated with coal mining activities. Tests were conducted to determine if the SRB could be used for increasing pH and the immobilization of soluble heavy metals of AMD from coal wastes. We investigated the mechanisms of preventing acid and heavy metals from coal waste by sulfate-reducing bacteria and effect of the dosage of carbon source on controlling acid and heavy metals contamination. The results show that SRB can effectively enhance pH and immobilize iron, cadmium and zinc of acid mine drainage from coal wastes. The 1% dosage of carbon source is suitable.