FURI | Spring 2025

Applications of Sulfate Reduction as a Bioremediation Treatment for Mining-Influenced Water Streams

This project investigates sulfate reduction and its applications within mining-influenced water from three mining-impacted streams. The goal of this experiment is to evaluate the biogeochemical variability and treatment efficiency for these streams by determining metal compositions, analyzing sulfate reduction rates, evaluating gas and sulfide production, and investigating microbial community shifts. Batch experiments are used to assess how different geochemical conditions influence sulfate-reducers’ activity under varying environments, with implications for metal recovery and water quality improvement. The experimental results aim to provide crucial insight into the feasibility of applying sulfate-reducing communities as a bioremediation strategy for mining-impacted environments.