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COMPUTER SIMULATOR (BEST) FOR DESIGNING SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA FIELD BIOREACTORS
Citation:
Zaluski, M. H., B. Park, AND D R. Bless*. COMPUTER SIMULATOR (BEST) FOR DESIGNING SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA FIELD BIOREACTORS. Presented at Session G-17, Microbial Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage Wastes, SETAC Conference 2004, Portland, OR, November 14 - 18, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
BEST (bioreactor economics, size and time of operation) is a spreadsheet-based model that is used in conjunction with public domain software, PhreeqcI. BEST is 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 PhreeqcI calculates geochemical equilibria through the bioreactor, the spreadsheet portion of the model includes factors associated with cleanup criteria, designed flow rate, capital and operating cost, required time of operation, 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. The remoteness of AMD sites, their abundance, and economic aspects require that the design of a bioreactor be simple and inexpensive and that the bioreactor be capable of treating any AMD flow rate and the metals load. Therefore, it is preferred that bioreactors are prefabricated and designed to a size allowing for transportation using backcountry roads in mountain regions. These conditions are met by bioreactors consisting of the number of modules (reactive cartridges) that are assembled into one SRB treatment system at the mine site. BEST simulator is tailored for designing such a treatment system based on the AMD chemistry and flow rate, and the reactivity of the organic matter that is used as the organic carbon source the electron donor for the sulfate reduction process. BEST was developed by the Mine Waste Technology Program (MWTP) at MSE Technology Applications (MSE), Butte, Montana, USA. The work was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was jointly administered by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory and performed at the Western Environmental Technology Office under DOE contract number DE-AC22-96EW96405.