PhD opportunity: Biotechnical treatment of infiltration water from mining operations  [December 13, 2022]

Location: University of Western Australia

Mining activities can result in severe environmental impacts due to the generation of large volumes of mine wastes and toxic mine drainage and process effluents. Acid mine drainage can originate from ore, waste rock piles, tailings, pit walls and underground workings, as sulfidic minerals are oxidised when exposed to air and water. Biological sulfate reduction -based processes can enable the concomitant removal of sulfate, metals and acidity, and recovery of metals as metal sulfides. The use of microorganisms and organic wastes may provide sustainable approach for the treatment of infiltration waters at mine sites. The aim of this project is to evaluate the efficiency of biotechnical treatment of infiltration water from mining operations using hydrolysed organic wastes (such as biosolids) as substrate and determine the economic feasibility of the possible process flow sheet.

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