Sulfide removal of current gas and liquid from anaerobic reactors applied to the treatment of acid mine drainage

• Grant number: 10/51273-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: November 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Agreement: Vale-FAPEMIG-FAPESPA
• Principal Investigator: Wiclef Dymurgo Marra Junior
• Grantee: Wiclef Dymurgo Marra Junior
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Company: Vale S/A
• City: São Carlos

Abstract

The acid mine drainage occurs when pyrite and other minerals containing sulfides are oxidized spontaneously due to the presence of oxygen and water, producing sulfuric acid that dissolves metals present in soil or rocks. This drainage can reach water bodies, affecting aquatic life and restricting the water consumption. Treatment of acid mine drainage by biological processes that involve reduction of sulfate has many advantages such as removing heavy metals, reducing costs of disposal of generated sludge and generating of alkalinity. However, the biological processes of sulfate reduction generate liquid and gaseous effluents with high concentration of sulfide. As a consequence, it is necessary to use units of post-treatment of gaseous and liquid phases, since the discharge of sulfide in gaseous or liquid streams is harmful to environment, biota and human health. The objective of this research are (1) to evaluate the removal of sulfide from the gaseous medium by adsorptive process, using anaerobic sludge as adsorbent and (2) the removal of sulfide from the liquid with conversion to elemental sulfur in micro-aerated reactors. (AU)