Commercial-Scale Potential of Biogenic Sulphide Systems

摘要

The application of biological sulphate reduction systems to mine water treatment has seen increasing interest over the past thirty years. One approach utilizes sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) in a two-stage system in which a sulphide precipitation stage utilizes reagents (sulphide products, alkalinity) generated in a subsequent biological stage. This design, called a biogenic sulphide system, has been NTBC's specialty for over 10 years. The focus of the paper is on full-scale application of the technology and includes an examination of the expected economics of the first potential full-scale plants including nutrient requirements, reactor design, and site suitability. Basic revenue and cost projections and a comparison with lime treatment are provided in a case study. The paper includes a summary of the technology and large-scale pilot work by NTBC.