Comparative performance of anaerobic attached biofilm and granular sludge reactors for the treatment of model mine drainage wastewater containing selenate, sulfate and nickel

Acid mine drainage and mining wastewaters contain, depending on the source, elevated concentrations of metals, e.g. nickel (Ni2+), and oxyanions, e.g. selenate (SeO42−) and sulfate (SO42−). This study compared the performance of two reactor configurations, a biotrickling filter (BTF) and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, for the treatment of model mining wastewater contaminated with SeO42−, SO42− and Ni2+. The Se removal...