Microbiology of fly ash-acid mine drainage co-disposal processes
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Date
2005
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
The waste products acid mine drainage (AMD), formed during coal mining and fly ash
(FA) from coal burning power generation, pose substantial environmental and economic
problems for South Africa. Eskom has developed a remediation system employing
alkaline FA to neutralize and precipitate heavy metals from toxic acidic AMD streams.
The aim of this study was to assess the microbial diversity in and microbial impact on
this remediation system. The total microbial diversity was assessed by well-established
molecular phylogenetic analyses using 16S rDNA gene sequences. The results obtained
from the AMD confirmed the presence of acidophilic organisms, such as
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (At. ferrooxidans). After co-disposal of FA and AMD,
microbial cell growth was not detected and microbial genomic DNA could not be
extracted. The absence of microbial communities in the co-disposal phase is beneficial to
the continuation of the development of such a co-disposal process. Results of this project
will assist in the effective implementation of FA-AMD co-disposal systems, which may
improve water quality in effected regions of South-Africa.
Description
>Magister Scientiae - MSc
Keywords
Acid mine drainage, Acidophiles, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Coal mining, Co-disposal, Fly ash, Neutralization, Remediation system, Waste management.