Bioremediation of acid mine drainage in a uranium deposit

Acid drainage waters generated in the uranium deposit in Curilo, Bulgaria, were treated by means of different passive systems such as natural and constructed wetlands, alkalizing limestone drains, permeable reactive multibarriers and a rock filter, used separately or in different combinations. The waters had a pH in the range of about 2–4 and contained radionuclides (uranium, radium), heavy metals (copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese), arsenic and sulphates in concentrations usually much higher than the relevant permissible levels for waters intended for use in agriculture and/or industry. The water flow rate through the individual systems was different and not stable, and varied in the range approximately from 0.02 to 1.5 L/s. Efficient removal of pollutants was achieved by means of these systems during the different climatic seasons, even during the cold winter months at water and ambient temperatures close to 0 °C. The removal was due to different mechanisms but microbial sulphate reduction, biosorption by living and dead plant biomass and chemical neutralization played the main roles.