Investigation of Suitable, Readily Available, Sources of Sulfate‐Reducing Bacteria Inoculum, and Evaluation of Sulfate Reduction Rates Achieved at Different pHs

作者：Janet Smith, Craig Sheridan, Lizelle van Dyk, Kevin G. Harding · 发表于：Environmental Microbiology Reports · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1111/1758-2229.70081 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Mine drainage and remediation techniques、Metal Extraction and Bioleaching、Tailings Management and Properties

ABSTRACT This study investigated the suitability of readily available and naturally occurring sources of microorganisms (inoculum) to use for the cultivation of sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) for acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation. The selected inocula included AMD water (AMD), mud (MUD) and reed‐bed mud (RM) from the AMD surrounds, mealworms (MW), cow dung (CD) and raw sewage sludge (RS). The suitability of the different inoculum sources was evaluated by comparing the SO 4 2− reduction and sulfide (S 2− ) production rates at three different pHs. Experimental results showed that the AMD, MW, MUD and CD inoculum did not produce appreciable reduction of SO 4 2− to S 2− and were unsuitable sources of SRB inoculum. The inoculum evaluated in pH 2 media did not achieve SO 4 2− reduction. Of the inoculum assessed in pH 4 media, only the RM inoculum achieved SO 4 2− reduction (40%) with S 2− production (36 mg/L). In contrast, a notable S 2− production, RS (114 mg/L) and RM (99 mg/L), accompanied the SO 4 2− reduction achieved in the pH 7.5 RS (44%) and RM (30%) samples. The improved S 2− produced /SO 4 2− removed conversion ratios for samples pH 7.5 RS (0.14) and pH 7.5 RM (0.17) are indicative of increased SRB activity and the suitability of these inoculum as SRB sources.