Isolation and Application of Manganese-Oxidizing Bacteria in Mining Areas: Bioremediation of Manganese and Other Heavy Metals in Acidic Wastewater from Uranium Mines
摘要
The contamination of heavy metals has emerged as a critical environmental challenge on a global scale, and the use of microorganisms for wastewater bioremediation represents an effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly solution. In this study, a manganese-oxidizing bacterial (MnOB) community, AX-1, consisting primarily of Brevibacillus and Stenotrophomonas, was successfully isolated from wastewater of a uranium hydrometallurgical plant. The MnOB community exhibited excellent manganese removal performance across a pH range of 4.0–9.0, with a Mn(II) removal efficiency of over 91%. After seven days of incubation in simulated acid mine drainage, removal efficiencies for Mn(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) reached 94.2%, 97.9%, and 91.4%, respectively. Of the Mn(II) removed, 55.9% was attributed to biosorption, with a maximum Mn(II) oxidation rate of 40.1% observed during the process. The AX-1 community demonstrated manganese and heavy metal ion remediation through both biosorption and biological oxidation. Additionally, the adsorption and coprecipitation of biogenic manganese oxides further enhanced the removal efficiency. These results enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying manganese removal and underscore the significant potential of the MnOB community AX-1 in remediating heavy metal ions from uranium-containing acid mine drainage.