Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Acid Mine Drainage to the Activated Sludge Process

The combined treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) and municipal wastewater using the activated sludge process is an innovative approach to AMD remediation. The toxicity of synthetic AMD to activated sludge was evaluated using oxygen uptake rate (OUR) inhibition tests, which showed that activated sludge can withstand high proportions of AMD (EC₅₀ 19?C52% AMD by volume). The EC₅₀ values of municipal and industrial activated sludges were significantly different (p?<?0.05), with municipal sludges exhibiting higher tolerance to AMD. Although the EC₅₀ values for heterotrophic and nitrifying activated sludges were not statistically significantly different, the EC₅₀ values for heterotrophic bacteria were generally higher. Laboratory-based sequencing batch reactors were used to examine the treatability of AMD. Increased concentrations of COD and suspended solids, associated with turbidity and poor floc morphology, were observed in the final effluent after extended AMD loading. Protozoan community structure changed during the AMD loading period, and overall abundance tended to decrease over time. OUR decreased in the AMD-loaded reactors, particularly in the reactor receiving the highest AMD load, indicating reduced biomass activity over the acclimatization period. Results from OUR inhibition tests on the acclimatized activated sludge indicated that over a relatively short timescale (21?days), the activated sludge microbial community can adapt to AMD sufficiently so that shock loads of metals and acidity do not significantly inhibit OUR. These preliminary studies indicate that it is possible to treat AMD successfully in admixture with municipal wastewater using the activated sludge process.