Microbial Generation of Acid Mine Drainage. Its Bioremediation in Buenos Aires, Argentina

BENITEZ LEONARDO; PLAZA CAZÓN JOSEFINA; WILLIS PORATTI GRACIANA; DONATI EDGARDO

Bioremediation in Latin America. Current Research and Perspectives

Springer ADIS Argentina S.A

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2014; p. 165 - 178

Acid mine drainages are highly acidic toxic solutions with elevated heavy metal concentrations that can be firstly generated when rocks containing pyrite and other metal sulfides are brought and exposed to oxygen and water. The activity of iron- and sulfur- oxidizing microorganisms which thrive at a pH range of 1.0?4.0 can significantly catalyze that process and the resulting drainages produce a strong impact on the mining region causing contamination to streams and rivers and negative effects on the biodiversity. To reduce its impact, different physical, chemical, and biological treatments are used together into natural and constructed wetlands. Biosorption and bioprecipitation are two of the biological processes within the wetlands. In this chapter we describe the situation in an abandoned silver-zinc-lead mine including acid mine drainage generation by microbial action and the evaluation of its treatment using biosorption on plant biomasses and bioprecitation by sulfate-reducing bacteria.