Bártová, Z., Briančin, J. & Fabián, M., 2026: Biological iron removal and pigment recovery from acid mine drainage using native microbial consortia [Biologické odstránenie železa a súčasné získavanie pigmentov z kyslých banských vôd s využitím prirodzene sa vyskytujúcich mikrobiálnych spoločenstiev]. Mineralia Slovaca, 58, 1, 87 – 96.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56623/ms.2026.58.1.5
Abstract: The biological removal and recovery of iron from actual mine water were carried out using mining influenced water (MIW) sourced from the Smolník mine site in Slovakia. The oxidation of ferrous iron was improved by utilizing native acidophilic microbial communities, resulting in more than 99 % iron removal within 30 hours under acidic conditions. A stepwise treatment process – incorporating aeration, microbial oxidation, and controlled pH adjustment – facilitated the formation of iron precipitates, including schwertmannite and ferrihydrite. Elemental and structural analyses showed that these biologically formed precipitates contained low levels of arsenic, complying with regulatory standards for pigment applications. Overall, the findings demonstrate a sustainable approach that not only removes contaminants but also enables the recovery of valuable materials.
Key words: acid mine drainage, pigments, Smolník, bacterial oxidation, mining influenced water, schwertmannite