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Microbial Abundance in the Schwertmannite Formed in a Mine Water Treatment Plant

Mikrobiologische Abundanz in Schwertmannit aus einer Pilotanlage zur Behandlung von Bergbauwässern

Abundancia Microbiana en la Schwertmannita Formada en la Planta de Tratamiento de Agua de Mina

矿井水处理厂施氏矿(Schwertmannite)的微生物丰度研究

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Abstract

Treatment of acidic iron- and sulfate-rich mine waters in a pilot plant at the opencast lignite mining pit Nochten (Lusatia, Germany) involves microbial iron oxidation and subsequent precipitation of the iron-oxyhydroxysulfate schwertmannite. To determine if recirculation of schwertmannite can stabilize and optimize the oxidation process, cell number, viability, and diversity of the bacterial community in schwertmannite precipitated on carrier material and stored schwertmannite were analyzed. In schwertmannite on carrier material, the total cell number decreased slightly with increasing mineral depth, whereas the percentage of viable cells decreased significantly. The microbial community, investigated by fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization (FISH) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), revealed the presence of the iron-oxidizing bacterium “Ferrovum” sp. and relatives of Gallionella, independent of mineral depth. Analysis of the viability of microorganism in stored schwertmannite indicated an almost constant percentage of viable cells over 42 days.

Zusammenfassung

Am Tagebau Nochten (Lausitz, Deutschland) werden saure Eisen- und sulfatreiche Bergbauwässer in einer Pilotanlage biotechnologisch behandelt. Die Eisenkonzentration wird durch mikrobielle Eisenoxidation mit anschließender Präzipitation des Eisen(III)-oxyhydroxysulfates Schwertmannit reduziert. Eine Stabilisierung und Optimierung des Oxidationsprozesses soll durch eine Rückführung des Schwermannits erreicht werden. Um die Machbarkeit dieser in Betracht gezogenen Strategie beurteilen zu können, wurden die Zellzahl, die Lebensfähigkeit und die Zusammensetzung der bakteriellen Lebensgemeinschaft in auf Aufwuchsträgern präzipitierten und in gelagertem Schwertmannit analysiert. In dem auf Aufwuchsträgern präzipitieren Schwertmannit konnte eine nur leichte Abnahme der Gesamtzellzahl innerhalb des Mineralpräzipitates festgestellt werden, wohingegen der Anteil der lebenden Zellen mit steigender Mineraltiefe signifikant abnahm. Die mikrobielle Lebensgemeinschaft, die mittels Fluoreszenz-in-situ-Hybridisierung (FISH) und terminalen Restriktionsfragmentlängen-Polymorphismus (T-RFLP) analysiert wurde, wurde unabhängig von der Mineraltiefe von dem eisenoxidierenden Bakterium „Ferrovum“ sp. und Gallionella-Verwandten dominiert. In gelagertem Schwertmannit wurde über 42 Tage ein nahezu konstanter Anteil an lebenden Zellen im Mineral detektiert.

Resumen

El tratamiento de aguas ácidas ricas en hierro y sulfato en una planta piloto en el hoyo de la mina de lignita a cielo abierto Nochten (Lusatia, Alemania) involucra oxidación microbiana de hierro y la subsecuente precipitación del oxohidroxo sulfato de hierro schwertmannita. Para determinar si la recirculación de schwertmannita puede estabilizar y optimizar el proceso de oxidación, se analizaron el número de células, la viabilidad y la diversidad en la comunidad bacteriana en el precipitado de schwertmannita sobre material portador y en schwertmannita almacenada. En la schwertmannita sobre material portador, el número total de células decreció ligeramente con el incremento de la profundidad en el mineral mientras que el porcentaje de células viables decreció significativamente. La comunidad microbiana, investigada por hibridación fluorescente in situ (FISH) y polimorfismo de la longitud de los fragmentos terminales de restricción (T-RFLP), revelaron la presencia de bacterias hierro oxidantes Ferrovum sp y cercanas a Gallionella, independiente de la profundidad del mineral. El análisis de la viabilidad de microorganismos en la schwertmannita almacenada indicó un porcentaje casi constante de células viables durante 42 días.

抽象

富铁、富硫酸盐酸性矿井水处理在德国卢萨西亚(Lusatia)萨克森(Nochten)褐煤露天矿小型试验场进行,该类水处理需经历铁微生物氧化及随后的次生羟基硫酸高铁矿物施氏矿(Schwertmannite)沉降两个重要过程。为了确定施氏矿的再循环处理是否能稳定和优化氧化过程,研究了沉积于载体材料的和预存的施氏矿的菌落细胞数量、生物活性和菌落多样性。载体材料上的施氏矿总体细胞数量随沉积矿物深度增加而略微减少,活细胞的百分比减少更加明显。利用荧光原位杂交(FISH)和末端限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)方法分析了菌群特征,铁氧化细菌(Ferrovum sp.)和亲缘微生物Gallionella的存在与沉积矿物深度无关。预存施氏矿的微生物活性研究表明,其活性细胞比例在42天之后仍能保持稳定。

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for funding the SURFTRAP project (Project: 03G0714B) within the Geotechnologien R&D program. Furthermore, we thank Mareen Moche for helping with the cell counting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Ecological Center, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany

    Judith S. Tischler, Claudia Wiacek & Michael Schlömann

  2. Department of Biotechnology, G.E.O.S. Freiberg Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Gewerbepark “Schwarze Kiefern”, 09633, Halsbrücke, Germany

    Eberhard Janneck

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  1. Judith S. Tischler
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  2. Claudia Wiacek
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  3. Eberhard Janneck
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Correspondence to Judith S. Tischler.

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Tischler, J.S., Wiacek, C., Janneck, E. et al. Microbial Abundance in the Schwertmannite Formed in a Mine Water Treatment Plant. Mine Water Environ 32, 258–265 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-013-0250-8

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