Mathematical modeling of in situ synthesis of metal sulfides by sulfate-reducing bacteria and treatment of acidic mine drainage
Date
2025
Authors
Chen, J.
Chen, M.
Yang, W.
Gan, L.
Owens, G.
Chen, Z.
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Journal article
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Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025; 522(167683):1-11
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Acidic mine drainage (AMD) poses a significant environmental threat due to its high acidity and heavy metal (HM) content. In this study, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were employed to remediate AMD through a multi-cycle treatment strategy. SRB not only reduced sulfate to sulfide, enabling the precipitation of Fe3+ and Zn2+ as insoluble sulfides, but also facilitated the in situ biosynthesis of metal sulfides. The proposed treatment process led to substantial improvements in AMD water quality, with pH increasing from 5.5 to 8.0, Eh decreasing from +86.8 to-200 mV, an almost 50 % reduction in total organic carbon (TOC), and sustained sulfate depletion. Notably, complete removal (100 %) of Fe3+ and Zn2+ was achieved. Microbial community analysis revealed a compositional shift toward SRB-dominated populations after sludge domestication. To support and optimize this bioremediation process, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) model was developed to simulate the dynamics of SRB growth, sulfate reduction, and metal sequestration. Stability analysis confirmed the existence of a positive equilibrium point, where numerical simulations aligned with experimental observations. Sensitivity analysis further identified microbial growth rate and sulfate reduction efficiency as the dominant parameters most influencing system performance. Overall, this work not only demonstrated the dual benefit of SRB in metal sulfides nanoparticle synthesis and wastewater detoxification, but also established a predictive modeling framework to enhance the long-term applicability and design of SRB-based AMD treatment systems in the future.
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Copyright 2025 Elsevier