Development of a passive bioremediation process based on sulfate-reduction to treat arsenic-containing acidic mine water

Fabienne Battaglia-Brunet (1) , Catherine Joulian (1) , Corinne Casiot (2)

1 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
2 HSM - Hydrosciences Montpellier

Arsenic (As) is one of the priority pollutants commonly associated with mine tailings and Acid Mine Drainages (AMD). A bioprocess based on the activity of acido-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was studied at laboratory scale in order to precipitate arsenic sulfide. Enrichments of SRB were obtained from sediments of Carnoulès mining site in France. The enriched SRB-containing community was used to inoculate a bioreactor subsequently fed with a synthetic solution, its composition miming that of the Carnoulès AMD. The substrates were immobilized inside the bioreactor in order to treat water in a passive way. Results show the feasibility of selective precipitation of arsenic versus iron in a passive bioreactor fed with AMD.

Domaines: Biotechnologie

Fabienne Battaglia-Brunet, Catherine Joulian, Corinne Casiot. Development of a passive bioremediation process based on sulfate-reduction to treat arsenic-containing acidic mine water . Sixth International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment (As2016), Jun 2016, Stockholm, Sweden. 2016, Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment (As2016). ⟨10.1201/b20466-63⟩. ⟨hal-01312147⟩