Passive biochemical reactors (PBRs) represent a promising option for the treatment of mine drainage. In this study, the influence of temperature (22 and 5 °C), salinity (0 and 20 g/L) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the efficiency of PBRs for the treatment of acidic and neutral mine drainage (AMD and NMD) was evaluated. To do so, eight 11 L PBRs were set-up and operated with vertically upward flow. Synthetic AMD and NMD, with two salinities (0 and 20 g/L), were tested at ambient temperature (22 ± 0.5 °C) during the first 3 months, then at low temperature (5 ± 1 °C), for 5 additional months. The HRT tested was 0.5 and 1 day, for NMD, and 2.5 and 5 days, for AMD. Results showed a consistent efficiency, above 65%, with higher HRTs (1 vs. 0.5 day for NMD and 5 vs. 2.5 for AMD). At room temperature, metals and sulfate removal was better for non-saline synthetic effluents (>99% vs 95% for Cu, 99% vs >74% for Ni, 90% vs 75% for Fe, and <99% vs <96% for SO42-), after 3 months. At 5 °C, removal efficiency decreased especially for Ni, from 99% to 74%, for both mine drainage qualities. However, sulfate removal was found to be better in saline AMD (<40% vs <10%). The simultaneous effect of low temperature and high salinity further decreased PBR performance. Although higher HRTs entailed better removal efficiency, hydraulic problems such as decreases in permeability of the reactive mixture may still lead to inhibition of long-term PBR efficiency.
Keywords: Acid mine drainage; Column bioreactor; Low temperature; Neutral mine drainage; Salinity.
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