Extensivetechnologiesforthetreatmentof sulphate intailingfacilityeffluents:from benchtothepilotplant

ClaudiaOrtiz,MarioCarreoand MarcelaWilkens Faculty of Chemistry and Biology,University of SantiagodeChile,Chile Andre Gerth and Anja Hebner BioPlanta GmbH,Germany

PROBLEM
Miningactivitiesgenerateliquidwaste containingheavymetalsandhigh concentrationsofsulphates.

SOLUTION
Astrategyforthetreatmentofthiswasteis theuseofbiologicalsystemswithsulphate reducingbacteria(SRB)andmetal accumulatingplants.

ADVANTAGES
Biologicaltreatmentofminingresidualwaters isaneconomicallyinterestingapproach Environmentally friendly Low energy cost

PROPOSAL
Theprojectproposesatechnologicalsolution consistingofatreatmentsystemmadebyan anaerobicsulphatereducingsystemthat usesbacteriacoupledtoanoptimized wetlandsystem.

LOCATION
Second region of Antofagasta(Talabre, Chuquicamata) Treatment of tailingfacility effluents 2,800 mg/Lsulphate;pH 7.08.0;Cu0.51.0mg/L; Mn upto 3.0mg/L Upto 50m3/day

CARACTERIZACION DEL AREA DE ESTUDIO: TRANQUE DE RELAVE TALABRE, II REGION

N

Nor te

2481
# #
ue bra d

2515
#

2445

2515
#

ENTRADA # AL TRANQUE % INSTALACIONES %

2542

2470
#

TRANQUE DE RELAVE TALABRE

VEGA

"
COLA DE ZORRO

2459 2457
#
d a S eb r a ur Qu

2486
PARCELAS DE MUESTREO

BOFEDAL " " NOLANA

2486 2469
# #

DEPRESION CON VEGETACION

"

2493 2515
# #

Cam in o a C hi u- Ch iu

2507
#

2477
#

SITIO DE INSTALACION PILOTO WETLAND

2442
TRANQUE DE RELAVE

ESCALA: 1: 50.000 FUENTE: SERNAGEOMIN 2001, Elaboracin prpopia FONDEF D06I1097

STRATEGY
Evaluationofperformanceofthreebacterial consortiaunderlaboratoryconditions
Bacterialstrainsandgrowthconditions Alternative carbon source Solid matrixes Sulphate removalinsyntheticMLIW

STRATEGY
Evaluationofperformanceofthreebacterial consortiaunderlaboratoryconditions
Bacterialstrainsandgrowthconditions Alternative carbon source Solid matrixes Sulphate removalinsyntheticMLIW

STRATEGY
Technicalinvestigationonmicrobialsulphate reductionusingmodelsystems
Bacterialgrowthconditions Carbon source Sulphate removal

RESULTSSulphatereducingactivityoftheSRB
consortia

RESULTSCarbonsourceeffectonsulphate
reduction
Carbonsource Earthwormhumus Wheatstraw Sawdust Cork Coconutfiber Guano Alfalfa Drymoss Whitepaper Peat C1 C2 C3 Incubationtime(7days) + + + + + + + + +

RESULTSEffectoftheretentiontimeandvolume
ratioonsulphate reduction(C1)
Experiment Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sand/Liquid ratio 1:1 1:10 1:1 1:1 1:10 1:10 1:10 1:1 LacticAcid (mg/L) 30.0 90.0 90.0 90.0 30.0 90.0 30.0 30.0 RetentionTime Reducedsulphate (h) (%) 10.0 10.0 0.50 10.0 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 10.3 14.5 12.5 13.0 10.9 14.0 11.5 10.5

RESULTSMicrobialsulphate reductioncoupled
withsulphide immobilizationusingreactivematerialin modelsystems
A B

C D

CONCLUSIONS
Alternativecarbonsourcecanbeusedbysulphate reducingbacteria Retentiontimeandsolidmatrixdidnotaffectsulphate reduction(3days) butthewaterheighthastobeconsidered Sulphate reductionefficiencyishigherinamoreanaerobicsystemfrom 14%(semianaerobic)upto90%(fullyanaerobic) Sulphate reductionismoreefficientwhenworkingwithisolatedconsortia CDOisacriticalparametertobeconsideredinthedesignandoperation ofapilotplant.

Usach: CORFO-INNOVA 09CN14-5795. BioPlanta: Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Germany