Economic and Environmental Geology (자원환경지질)

The Korean Society of Economic and Environmental Geology (대한자원환경지질학회)
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In-situ Precipitation of Arsenic and Copper in Soil by Microbiological Sulfate Reduction

미생물학적 황산염 환원에 의한 토양 내 비소와 구리의 원위치 침전

  • Jang, Hae-Young (GS Caltex Corporation, GS Gangnam Tower) ;
  • Chon, Hyo-Taek (Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Jong-Un (Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, Chonnam National University)
  • Published : 2009.10.28
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Abstract

Microbiological sulfate reduction is the transformation of sulfate to sulfide catalyzed by the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria using sulfate as an electron acceptor. Low solubility of metal sulfides leads to precipitation of the sulfides in solution. The effects of microbiological sulfate reduction on in-situ precipitation of arsenic and copper were investigated for the heavy metal-contaminated soil around the Songcheon Au-Ag mine site. Total concentrations of As, Cu, and Pb were 1,311 mg/kg, 146 mg/kg, and 294 mg/kg, respectively, after aqua regia digestion. In batch-type experiments, indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria rapidly decreased sulfate concentration and redox potential and led to substantial removal of dissolved As and Cu from solution. Optimal concentrations of carbon source and sulfate for effective microbial sulfate reduction were 0.2~0.5% (w/v) and 100~200 mg/L, respectively. More than 98% of injected As and Cu were removed in the effluents from both microbial and chemical columns designed for metal sulfides to be precipitated. However, after the injection of oxygen-rich solution, the microbial column showed the enhanced long-term stability of in-situ precipitated metals when compared with the chemical column which showed immediate increase in dissolved As and Cu due to oxidative dissolution of the sulfides. Black precipitates formed in the microbial column during the experiments and were identified as iron sulfide and copper sulfide. Arsenic was observed to be adsorbed on surface of iron sulfide precipitate.

미생물학적 황산염 환원은 황산염을 전자수용체로 이용하는 황산염 환원 박테리아에 의해 황산염이 황화이온으로 변환되는 과정이다. 형성된 황화이온은 주변의 용존 금속 이온과 결합하여 용해도가 낮은 금속 황화물로 침전된다. 이 연구에서는 비소와 중금속으로 오염된 송천 금은광산 일대 토양을 대상으로 하여 토착 박테리아에 의한 황산염 환원을 유도함으로써 독성 원소의 원위치 고정화 기술의 효율성을 평가하였다. 왕수 분해 결과, 대상 토양 내 비소, 구리, 납의 함량은 각각 1,311 mg/kg, 146 mg/kg, 294 mg/kg 등으로 나타나 특히 비소의 오염이 심각한 상태였다. 회분식 실험 결과, 미생물학적 황산염 환원에 의하여 pH 증가, 산화환원전위 감소, 황산염 함량 감소, 비소와 구리 함량 감소 등이 관찰되었다. 이 때 가장 높은 중금속 침전 효율을 유도하는 탄소원과 황산염의 농도 범위는 각각 0.2~0.5%, 100~200 mg/L로 나타났다. 미생물학적 또는 화학적으로 황화물 침전을 유도하게 고안된 컬럼 실험 수행 결과, 비소와 구리는 두 컬럼에서 모두 98% 이상 제거되었다. 그러나 산소를 다량 포함한 용액을 주입한 후, 화학적으로 황화물 침전을 유도한 컬럼에서는 즉각적인 비소와 구리의 재용출 현상이 나타났으나, 미생물학적 황산염 환원을 유도한 컬럼에서는 침전물이 30일 이상 장기간 안정성을 보였다. 미생물학적 컬럼 내에 형성된 검은색 침전물을 분석한 결과 FeS와 CuS로 나타났으며 비소는 대부분 철 황화물에 흡착되어 있는 것으로 확인되었다.

Keywords

References

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