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DESIGNING SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA FIELD-BIOREACTORS USING THE BEST MODEL
Citation:
Zaluski, M. H., B. Park, AND D R. Bless*. DESIGNING SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA FIELD-BIOREACTORS USING THE BEST MODEL. Presented at 6th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD), Icard, AUSTRALIA, July 12 - 18, 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
DESIGNING SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA FIELD-BIOREACTORS USING THE BEST MODEL
Marek H. Zaluski1,3, Brian T. Park1, Diana R. Bless2
1 MSE Technology Applications; 200 Technology Way, Butte, Montana 59701, USA
2 U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA
3 Corresponding author: MSE-TA, 200 Technology Way, Butte, MT 59701, USA
Phone: (1) (406) 494-7434, E-mail: zaluskim@mse-ta.com
BEST (bioreactor economics, size and time of operation) is a spreadsheet-based model that is used in conjunction with a public domain computer software package, MINTEQAK. BEST is intended to be used in the design process of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) field-bioreactors to passively treat acid mine drainage (AMD) emanating from abandoned or active mine sites. While MINTEQAK calculates biogeochemical equilibria through the bioreactor, the spreadsheet portion of the model includes factors for acidity and the metal load present in the AMD, design flow rate, capital and operating cost, required time of operation, assumed maintenance and media replacement schedule, and the size and configuration of the bioreactor. Depending on the design constraints; each factor can be considered an entry parameter or the result of calculations. Examples of using BEST are included in the paper.
BEST was developed by Mine Waste Technology Program (MWTP) at MSE-TA, Butte, Montana, USA. The work was funded by the U.S. EPA and was jointly administered by the EPA and the U.S. DOE under DOE contract number DE-AC22-96EW96405.