Reaction time scales for sulphate reduction in sediments of acidic pit lakes and its relation to in-lake acidity neutralisation

• Measured sulphate reduction rates in acid pit lake sediments are compiled.
• A pH dependent Monod model for sulphate reduction is derived.
• pH and substrate dependent time scales for sulphate reduction are derived.
• Advective residence times are too short for effective sulphate reduction.
• Internal neutralisation by sulphate reduction is constrained to diffusive conditions.

Sulphate reduction is a key reaction to remove acidity from water bodies affected by acid mine drainage. In this study, 35SSO42− reduction rates determined in sediments from a variety of acidic lignite pit lakes have been compiled. The rates decreased with pH and are strongly dependent on carbon substrate. The rates were fitted to a Monod model adapted to the specific conditions of acidic pit lakes (APL) sediments: i) sulphate reduction rate is independent from sulphate concentration due to the high concentration typically observed in APL systems (10–30 mM), ii) the observed pH dependency of sulphate reduction was accounted for by an inhibition function Finihibt which considers the occurrence of low cell numbers of sulphate reducing bacteria at pH values < 4.75. Simulated steady-state sulphate reduction rates are predicting measured rates at carbon substrate concentrations of <10 μM. Estimated steady-state reaction time scales range between 2.4 h at pH 7 and 41 h at pH 3 at a carbon half-saturation constant of KC−S = 100 μM and are increasing with increasing KC−S values. Time scales at low pH are too long to allow for significant generation of alkalinity during the time of residence of groundwater passing through the top and hence most reactive zone of APL sediments which has important implications for the remediation of acidic pit lakes.