Journal Article
Título | Biologically-induced precipitation of sphalerite-wurtzite nanoparticles by sulfate-reducing bacteria: implications for acid mine drainage treatment. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Authors | Castillo, J, Pérez-López, R, Caraballo, MA, Nieto, JM, Martins, M, M Costa, C, Olías, M, Cerón, JC, Tucoulou, R |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Journal | Sci Total Environ |
Volume | 423 |
Date Published | 2012 Apr 15 |
Pagination | 176-84 |
ISSN | 1879-1026 |
Palavras-chave | Bacteria, Anaerobic, Biodegradation, Environmental, Chemical Precipitation, Environmental Pollutants, Industrial Waste, Mining, Nanoparticles, Oxidation-Reduction, Particle Size, Sulfides, Waste Management, Zinc, Zinc Compounds |
Abstract | Several experiments were conducted to evaluate zinc-tolerance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) obtained from three environmental samples, two inocula from sulfide-mining districts and another inoculum from a wastewater treatment plant. The populations of SRB resisted zinc concentrations of 260 mg/L for 42 days in a sulfate-rich medium. During the experiments, sulfate was reduced to sulfide and concentrations in solution decreased. Zinc concentrations also decreased from 260 mg/L to values below detection limit. Both decreases were consistent with the precipitation of newly-formed sphalerite and wurtzite, two polymorphs of ZnS, forming <2.5-μm-diameter spherical aggregates identified by microscopy and synchrotron-μ-XRD. Sulfate and zinc are present in high concentrations in acid mine drainage (AMD) even after passive treatments based on limestone dissolution. The implementation of a SRB-based zinc removal step in these systems could completely reduce the mobility of all metals, which would improve the quality of stream sediments, water and soils in AMD-affected landscapes. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.013 |
Sapientia | |
Alternate Journal | Sci. Total Environ. |
PubMed ID | 22414495 |