Sulfate-reducing bioreactors, also called biochemical reactors, represent a promising option for passive treatment of mining-influenced water (MIW) based on similar technology to aerobic/anaerobic-constructed wetlands and vertical-flow wetlands. MIW from each mine site has a variety of site-specific properties related to its treatment; therefore, design factors, including the organic substrates and inorganic materials packed into the bioreactor, must be tested and evaluated before installation of full-scale sulfate-reducing bioreactors. Several full-scale sulfate-reducing bioreactors operating at mine sites provide examples, but holistic understanding of the complex treatment processes occurring inside the bioreactors is lacking. With the recent introduction of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, microbial processes within bioreactors may be clarified based on the relationships between operational parameters and key microorganisms identified using high-resolution microbiome data. In this review, the test design procedures and precedents of full-scale bioreactor application for MIW treatment are briefly summarized, and recent knowledge on the sulfate-reducing microbial communities of field-based bioreactors from fine-scale monitoring is presented.Key points• Sulfate-reducing bioreactors are promising for treatment of mining-influenced water.• Various design factors should be tested for application of full-scale bioreactors.• Introduction of several full-scale passive bioreactor systems at mine sites.• Desulfosporosinus spp. can be one of the key bacteria within field-based bioreactors.
Keywords: Metal removal; Microbial community analysis; Mining-influenced water treatment; Sulfate-reducing bacteria; Sulfate-reducing bioreactor.