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In-situ suppression of acid mine drainage from non-ferrous metal mine waste rocks using microbially induced carbonate precipitation.

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Title: In-situ suppression of acid mine drainage from non-ferrous metal mine waste rocks using microbially induced carbonate precipitation.
Authors: Lin, Hai1,2 (AUTHOR), Li, Xinru1 (AUTHOR), Zhou, Mengying1 (AUTHOR), Dong, Yingbo1,2 (AUTHOR) ybdong@ustb.edu.cn
Source: Journal of Environmental Sciences (Elsevier). May2026, Vol. 163, p857-866. 10p.
Subjects: Acid mine drainage, Biomineralization, Sulfates, Mine waste, Microbial communities, Environmental remediation, Copper mining
Abstract: • Waste rocks post-microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) biomineralization show good and stable acid-control effects. • The SO 4 2- concentration was decreased by 71.2 % under biomineralization of carbonate-mineralizing bacterial consortium (UPC). • Adsorption between waste rocks and carbonate-mineralizing flora is mainly chemical multi-layer adsorption. • Mineralization covers waste rock surfaces, reducing S and Fe element exposure. Acid mine drainage (AMD) from sulfide-rich copper mine waste rocks poses severe environmental risks, yet sustainable in situ mitigation strategies remain limited. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising approach, but its efficiency and long-term stability in mine waste environments are not fully understood. In this study, a carbonate-mineralizing bacterial consortium (UPC) was applied to copper mine waste rocks, and its performance was assessed through a combination of mineralization experiments, leaching tests, scanning electron microscope and the energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and microbial community analysis. The influences of microbial and mineralization parameters and environmental conditions were systematically investigated. Under optimized conditions (1 × 108 cfu/mL bacterial concentration, 0.75 mol/L mineralization solution, 1:1 bacterial-to-solution volume ratio, and 30 mL dosage), effluent pH remained above 7.3 and sulfate release was reduced by more than 70 %. MICP remained effective under moderate acidity (pH ≥ 5) and variable leaching rates but declined under extreme acidity (pH = 3). Multi-scale analyses revealed that dense carbonate mineral precipitates formed on the surface of waste rocks, masking reactive sites and clogging pores to reduce acid production. Additionally, microbial communities shifted from Firmicutes to Actinobacteriota dominated, collectively supporting long-term stability. These findings clarify the mechanisms by which MICP suppresses AMD and provide a technical basis for scaling up to field applications. Future research should focus on enhancing microbial acid tolerance and developing cost-effective delivery strategies for large-scale mine waste management. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:• Waste rocks post-microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) biomineralization show good and stable acid-control effects. • The SO 4 2- concentration was decreased by 71.2 % under biomineralization of carbonate-mineralizing bacterial consortium (UPC). • Adsorption between waste rocks and carbonate-mineralizing flora is mainly chemical multi-layer adsorption. • Mineralization covers waste rock surfaces, reducing S and Fe element exposure. Acid mine drainage (AMD) from sulfide-rich copper mine waste rocks poses severe environmental risks, yet sustainable in situ mitigation strategies remain limited. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising approach, but its efficiency and long-term stability in mine waste environments are not fully understood. In this study, a carbonate-mineralizing bacterial consortium (UPC) was applied to copper mine waste rocks, and its performance was assessed through a combination of mineralization experiments, leaching tests, scanning electron microscope and the energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and microbial community analysis. The influences of microbial and mineralization parameters and environmental conditions were systematically investigated. Under optimized conditions (1 × 108 cfu/mL bacterial concentration, 0.75 mol/L mineralization solution, 1:1 bacterial-to-solution volume ratio, and 30 mL dosage), effluent pH remained above 7.3 and sulfate release was reduced by more than 70 %. MICP remained effective under moderate acidity (pH ≥ 5) and variable leaching rates but declined under extreme acidity (pH = 3). Multi-scale analyses revealed that dense carbonate mineral precipitates formed on the surface of waste rocks, masking reactive sites and clogging pores to reduce acid production. Additionally, microbial communities shifted from Firmicutes to Actinobacteriota dominated, collectively supporting long-term stability. These findings clarify the mechanisms by which MICP suppresses AMD and provide a technical basis for scaling up to field applications. Future research should focus on enhancing microbial acid tolerance and developing cost-effective delivery strategies for large-scale mine waste management. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10010742
DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2025.11.048