Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy... – Destruction of hazardous or toxic waste
Patent
1998-03-27
2000-06-27
Beisner, William H.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy...
Destruction of hazardous or toxic waste
435248, 4352521, 210611, C12S 1300
Patent
active
060805722
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to the microbiological decontamination of sulfuric-acid, metal-containing, anaerobic, in some cases radioactively contaminated water using new Gram-negative sulfate-reducing bacteria.
The invention can be utilized in the treatment of pit and flooding water in disused mines, particularly uranium mines.
Sulfuric-acid and metal-containing water can be processed in various ways. Most of the procedures developed so far are based on physical and chemical principles. Thus, ion/anion exchange may be used in the purification of sulfate-containing water; however, this is unsuitable for flooding water because huge amounts of water have to be treated. In addition, neutralization and/or precipitation reactions are required. One drawback is that the plants are prone to misfunction due to biofouling [Holl, W. and Kiehling, B. (1979), Nitrat- and Sulfatentfernung aus Rohwassern durch Anionenaustausch, Vom Wasser 53, 189-202; Brettschneider, U. (1990), Die Bedeutung von Sulfaten in der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft und ihre Entfernung durch Desulfurikanten, PhD Thesis, Darmstadt].
When using the reverse osmosis procedure, pre-purification and conditioning are required. There is the problem of membrane blocking, and the volumes of water to be treated are excessively high for such type of treatment [Bergmann, F. (1984), Umkehrosmose zur Sulfatentfernung, Wasser, 105, 217-240; Bergman, F., Ruffer, H., Schneegans, R. and Slomka, T. (1985), Erste Erfahrungen mit der Umkehrosmose-Anlage Duderstadt zur Sulfatentfernung, Vom Wasser 64, 155-167].
The procedures described so far for sulfate reduction and metal precipitation by bacteria are multistep processes which are highly expensive with respect to the plant, and thus very costly, and are incapable of being performed at acidic pH, and use lactate, acetate or ethanol as the carbon source [Cork, D. C. and Cusanovich, M. A. (1978), Sulfate Decomposition, a Microbiological Process, Waste Treatment and Environmental Considerations, 207-221; Cork, D. C. and Cusanovich, M. A. (1979), Continuous Disposal of Sulfate by a Bacterial Mutualism, Rev. Ind. Microbiol. 20, 591-602; Spisak, J. F. (1979), Metallurgical Effluents--Growing Challenges for Second Generation Treatment, Dev. Ind. Microbiol. 20, 379-387; Uphaus, R. A., Grimm, D. and Cork, D. J. (1983), Gypsum Bioconversion to Sulphur: a Two-Step Microbiological Process, Dev. Ind. Microbiol. 24, 435-442; Maree, J. P., Gerber, A., McLaren, A. R. and Hill, E. (1987), Biological Treatment of Mining Effluents, Environ.Technol. Lett. 8, 53-64; Maree, J. P. and Hill, E. (1989), Biological Removal of Sulphate from Industrial Effluents and Concomitant Production of Sulphur, Water Sci. Technol. 21, 265-276; Tommerdich, D. (1993), Entwicklung eines biotechnologischen Verfahrens zur Behandlung saurer sulfatund metallhaltiger Wasser, PhD Thesis, Bonn].
Another method described in DE 4,106,781 A1 involves incorporating sewage sludges as nutrients for sulfate-reducing bacteria on garbage dumps. However, this process suffers from various drawbacks. Due to the incorporation of the nutrients into the garbage dump, the process operates without control and relies on seepage of the nutrients. The method is not suitable for metal removing and sulfate reduction in mine water.
It was the object of the invention to provide bacteria strains permitting decontamination of strongly sulfuric-acid (pH values between 1 and 2) and metal-contaminated water at low cost and effectively using a controlled one-step process in a fermenter. More specifically, the bacteria strains are designed to have the property of efficiently adsorbing and accumulating metals including radioactive elements such as uranium and radium, in order to be suitable, e.g., for mine water of disused uranium mines.
New mesophilic Gram-negative bacteria strains have been found which grow under anaerobic conditions at pH values between 3.9 and 9.5, preferably 4 and 9, and temperatures between 3 and 45.degree. C., and reduce sulfate to sulfide. In particular, the bacteria strains of the
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Babel Wolfgang
Friedrich Silke
Hard Barbara
Beisner William H.
UFZ-Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig-Halle GmbH
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