WATER TREATMENT OF MANGANESE-RICH MINE DRAINAGE BY MANGANESE-OXIDIZING BACTERIA AT NEUTRAL PH

摘要

Manganese sediments and hot spring waters from west Hokkaido, Japan were investigated by XRD, EDS, ICP-AES and XPS. The sediment removed efficiently dissolved Mn ions in laboratory experiments, and this was found to be due to both chemical and biological factors. Considering that Mn-oxidizing bacteria grow actively at pH = 6/7 the sediment was applied to treat Mn-rich mine drainage, and Mn ions were successfully removed on a laboratory scale. These results suggest it would be possible to apply this treatment on a larger scale.