Pencegahan Acid Mine Drainage melalui pengendalian populasi Thiobacillus spp dengan bahan organik tanah

Abstract

Acid mine drainage is among the biggest problems in ex-mining sites. It caused by oxidation of sulphidic minerals releasing sulphate to the environment. In consequence, it increases heavy metals solubility, both in soil and water, due to acidity generating. The phenomenon is aggravated by inhabiting sulphur-oxidizing bacteria (BOS), such as Thiobacillus spp. These microbes willfold AMD 500.000-1.000.000 times faster than geo-chemically reaction. They are lithotrophs organisms that will be inhibited with soil organic matter (SOM). This research is aimed to observe the influence of SOM on BOS population. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was cultured in selected Starkey Medium enriched with sludge and top soil as SOM sources. Growth of bacteria indicated with medium color alteration to reddish. Soil pH, CEC and sulphate concentration also assessed to examine the soil improvement by SOM application. The result shown that, SOM was effective to limit the growth ofBOS. SOM can improve soil pH and CEC, significantly after 10 days application. It is recommended that to deal withAMD in ex-mining sites can be ameliorated organic matter to the soil.