ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage Based
on a Novel Coupled Membrane-Free Microbial
Fuel Cell with Permeable Reactive
Barrier System
Tang Hai, Pu Wen-Cheng, Cai Chang-Feng, Xu Jian-Ping, He Wen-Jun
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School of Biochemical Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University,
Beijing Mid-road No. 10, Wuhu, Anhui, China, 241000 Wuhu, China
Submission date: 2015-10-13
Final revision date: 2015-12-04
Acceptance date: 2015-12-05
Publication date: 2016-01-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(1):107-112
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ABSTRACT
In this study, a coupled membrane-free microbial fuel cell (MFC) with permeable reactive barrier (PRB)
was reported and its treatment performance and electricity generation for acid mine drainage (AMD) were
examined. The pilot-scale continuous flow MFC-PRB was operated for five periods at a hydraulic retention
time of 48.0 h, and the average sulphate removal percentages of 51.2%, 39.8%, and 33.1% were obtained
in effluent of 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 mg/l, respectively. More than 99.5% of the initial concentrations of Cu2+,
Zn2+, and Pb2+ were removed, resulting in concentrations of those elements of 0.01-0.05 mg/l in the effluent.
The results demonstrated that the MFC-PRB holds a potential capacity for remediation of AMD.