Treatment Of Acid Mine Drainage Research Articles

Application of alternative organic wetland media for acid mine drainage treatment: Insights on reformations of microbial community structure

Acid mine drainage (AMD) discharge, particularly from the North Eastern Coalfield (NEC), Assam, has been a major persistent ecological threat. A lab-scale constructed wetland (CW) deriving organic wastes as the wetland media was implemented to treat high acidity (724 mg L–1 as CaCO3) AMD loaded with sulfate (1000–1300 mg L–1). Metal contents in mine wastewater comprised iron, aluminium, manganese, zinc, cobalt, nickel and chromium as 104, 25, 6.2, 5.1, 1.1, 1.1 and 1.1 mg L–1, respectively. CW operated continuously at a hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 0.03 m3 m–2 d–1 for 282 days. Effluent water quality was monitored, and resulting shifts in microbial diversity were identified. Results demonstrated 771 mg L–1 (as CaCO3) alkalinity in effluent and metal removal (87–100%), except Co and Mn, which surpassed effluent discharge criteria. Further, the high-throughput sequencing results revealed significant reformations in bacterial assemblages throughout the operational period. Proteobacteria (45%) and Bacteroidetes (26%) represented the major bacterial groups at the start-up of CW, which later declined due to the elimination of aerobic strains under anaerobic conditions. Additionally, methanogenic archaea suppressed greatly due to the competition from sulfate and iron-reducers. An increase in the relative abundances of key functional bacteria (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria) in the treatment phase indicated stable operation. Sulfate reduction (62%) was partial, evidenced by the prominence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) (Thermodesulfobium, Syntrophobacter, Desulfomonile and Desulfovibrio). This study offers insights into the microbial dynamics within an organic-media-amended CW, which directly influences AMD treatment.

Efforts to Improve the Quality of Quicklime in Handling Acid Mine Drainage: A Case Study at PT. TCM

PT.TCM is confronted with the significant challenge of exceedingly low pH levels in its wastewater, a condition that has detrimental impacts on the surrounding environment and the company's legal compliance. This study seeks to address the issue of acid mine drainage by augmenting the effectiveness of Quicklime use, pinpointing alternative Quicklime sources suitable for acid mine drainage treatment, and curtailing associated costs without sacrificing its capacity to raise wastewater pH. Utilizing Pareto and Ishikawa diagrams to discern the root causes and subsequently validating these findings through linear regression, the research assessed Quicklime's efficacy in the process. The results indicate that enhancements in Quicklime quality can curtail the quantity required by as much as 350%, leading to a notable reduction in PT. TCM's production costs.

Long-term Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage from Ilgwang Abandoned Mine using Porous Zeolite-Slag Ceramics filled in a Column Reactor

Long-term Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage from Ilgwang Abandoned Mine using Porous Zeolite-Slag Ceramics filled in a Column Reactor

Determination and prediction of micro scale rare earth element geochemical associations in mine drainage treatment wastes

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been proposed as a novel source of rare earth elements (REE), a group of elements that includes critical metals for clean energy and modern technologies. REE are sequestered in the Fe–Al–Mn-rich precipitates produced during the treatment of AMD. These AMD solids are typically managed as waste but could be a REE source. Here, results from AMD solids characterization and geochemical modeling are presented to determine the minerals/solid phases that are enriched in REE and identify the mechanism(s) of REE attenuation.AMD solids collected from limestone-based AMD treatment systems were subjected to sequential extraction and synchrotron microprobe analyses to characterize the binding nature of the REE. The results of these analyses indicated REEs were mainly associated with Al or Mn phases. Only selected REE (Gd, Dy) were associated with Fe phases, which were less abundant than Al and Mn phases in analyzed samples. The sequential extractions demonstrated that acidic and/or reducing extractions effectively mobilize REE from the AMD solids evaluated. The observed element associations in solids are consistent with geochemical model results that indicate dissolved REE can be effectively attenuated by adsorption on freshly precipitated Fe, Al, and Mn oxides/hydroxides. The model, which simulates dissolution of CaCO3 and the precipitation of Fe, Al, and Mn oxides with increased pH, accurately predicts the pH dependent accumulation of dissolved REE with Al, Mn, and Fe oxides/hydroxides in the studied AMD treatment systems.The methods and results presented here can be used to identify conditions favorable for accumulation of REE-enriched AMD solids and possible passive or active treatment(s) to extract REE from AMD. This information can be used to design AMD treatment systems for the recovery of REE and is an opportunity to transform the challenges of addressing polluted mine drainage into an environmental and economic asset.

Towards circular and sustainable restoration of a deeply polluted river basin: The Odiel River catchment (SW Spain)

The Ría de Huelva estuary located in SW Spain is heavily polluted by acid mine drainage leachates and phosphate fertilizer industry effluents. This study assesses the effectiveness of a solid waste rich in calcite originated during the remediation of industrial effluents using the passive dispersed alkaline substrate (DAS) technology, for the treatment of highly acid and polluted mine drainages. The research consists of flowing the mine leachates through a column loaded with a combination of an alkaline reagent (i.e., calcite-rich waste resulting from the treatment of industrial leachates) scattered in a non-reactive matrix (i.e., wood chips) to increase the pH of acidic water while decreasing the solubility of dissolved pollutants. The alkaline treatment achieved average removal percentages of 100 % for Al and Fe, and close to 90 % for Cu. However, the treatment was not effective for other metals present in mine drainages such as Co and Ni. These results are comparable to those achieved in the DAS treatment with commercial limestone. The precipitation of oxyhydroxysulfates (i.e., schwertmannite and basaluminite) and carbonates (i.e., malachite and hydrozincite) minerals could be controlling the solubility of pollutants during the treatment. The solid wastes from the DAS treatment were subjected to two standardized leaching tests (EN 12457-2 from the European Union and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) from the United States) in order to ensure suitable management and avoid potential environmental impacts. According to European Union legislation, the high mobility of Cu, Zn and SO4 confers some solid wastes from the DAS treatment the hazardous waste classification. However, according to United States regulation, these same solids are considered non-hazardous wastes. This research could help to improve the environmental sustainability of acid mine drainage treatment with DAS technology by replacing marketable limestone with a low-cost alkaline waste.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment using a novel tannic acid functionalized Boehmite/polyether sulfone nanofiltration membrane

This study focuses on the fabrication of TA-BM/PES membranes by the incorporation of tannic acid functionalized Boehmite nanoparticles into the PES membrane matrix through the phase inversion technique. The presence of TA-BM nanoparticles in the TA-BM/PES membranes was confirmed by analysis of the FT-IR spectra of the embedded membranes. The hydrophilicity, permeability, surface morphology, and fouling resistance properties of membranes modified with TA-BM nanoparticles were compared to those of the naked membrane. The fouling behavior of the modified membranes was assessed in the presence of a foulant solution containing 200 ppm BSA (bovine serum albumin) and 200 ppm Na2SO4. The flux recovery ratio results showed an improvement in all modified membranes, especially M2 membrane. The modified membranes shown remarkable efficiency in the rejection of heavy metal ions (over 72 %), sulfate (over 80 %), and salt (Na2SO4 > 84 % and NaCl>48 %). The M2 membrane was chosen as the most suitable membrane and shown effective performance in eliminating heavy metals (Fe2+ = 65.5, Mn2+ = 88.8, Mg2+ = 83.5 and Ca2+ = 78.6 %) as well as sulfate (SO42− = 83.5 %) from a synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD) wastewater. Based on the findings presented in this research, it can be concluded that the TA-BM/PES nanofiltration membrane has potential for effective use in the treatment of AMD wastewater.

Highly Efficient Modified Constructed Wetlands Using Waste Materials for Natural Acid Mine Drainage Treatment

Coal-mining activities have well-documented adverse effects on both the environment and human health. Acid mine drainage, a pivotal concern, necessitates effective interventions. This study introduces a novel solution: a modified constructed wetlands crafted exclusively from waste materials, ensuring cost-effectiveness. The innovation yielded exceptional results, achieving a noteworthy reduction of up to 99% in heavy metal concentrations, alongside swift pH normalization. What sets this study apart is its potential beyond the laboratory setting; the utilization of waste materials and low-cost methodologies underscores its scalability and practicality. This solution addresses immediate challenges and showcases promise for real-world implementation. Moreover, the results of the study extend to its insights, which offer a comprehensive examination of the method’s reusability prospects, illuminating its sustained impacts; the recommendations for future action enhance its practical significance. This study marks a significant advancement in tackling acid mine drainage. The modified constructed wetlands, driven by cost-effective waste materials, embody scalable and sustainable potential. With its holistic outlook and strategic roadmap, this study holds the key to transforming acid mine drainage challenges, particularly in rural and developing regions.

Seed-mediated growth of schwertmannite for treatment of acid mine drainage: Improved adsorption of As(V) and Cr(VI) due to structure-related mechanisms

The biomineralization-driven formation of schwertmannite is an environmentally friendly strategy for acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment. In this study, a targeted approach using seed-mediated growth of schwertmannite was proposed. The biomineralization time was successfully shortened by one-third compared to biomineralization without seed mediation. In addition, the seed-mediated schwertmannite (S-Sch) exhibited superior adsorption performance towards As(V) and slightly improved adsorption of Cr(VI) than a non-seed-mediated schwertmannite sample (Sch). Furthermore, the whiskers that create the typical pincushion structure grew directly on the surface of the seed during the growth process with S-Sch, whereas biomineralization of Sch needed to nucleate crystals before growing the whiskers. More whiskers were found on S-Sch than on Sch, and the whiskers were arranged loosely on S-Sch while they were packed tightly on Sch. Following adsorption, As(V) is enriched at the whisker sites, where substantial > Fe–OH/OH2 existed, thereby inhibiting subsequent sulfate exchange at inner sites, the open structure of S-Sch decreases this passivation and allows continuous sulfate exchange. Cr(VI) adsorption is mainly due to sulfate exchange with little > Fe–OH/OH2 involved. Cr(VI) was distributed evenly on the surface of S-Sch, but an open mineral structure allows more inner sites to be reached, explaining the slightly better performance of S-Sch. The results suggest that the method proposed in this paper could be an effective way to shorten the biomineralization time and provide schwertmannite with excellent performance for the removal of As(V) and Cr(VI), which could lead to practical applications of biomineralization in the treatment of AMD.

Performance Assessment of Wood Ash and Bone Char for Manganese Treatment in Acid Mine Drainage

Developing efficient methods for Mn separation is the most challenging in exploring innovative and sustainable acid mine drainage (AMD) treatments. The availability and capacity of certain waste materials for Mn removal warrant further exploration of their performance regarding the effect of process factors. This study addressed the influence of AMD chemistry (initial pH and concentrations of Mn, sulfate, and Fe), the solid/solution ratio, and the contact time on Mn separation by wood ash (WA) and bone char (BC). At an equivalent dose, WA displayed higher neutralization and Mn removal capacity over the initial pH range of 2.5–6.0 due to lime, dicalcium silicate, and fairchildite dissolution. On the other hand, at optimal doses, Mn separation by BC was faster, it was less affected by coexisting sulfate and Fe(II) species, and the carbonated hydroxyapatite structure of BC remained preserved. Efficient removal of Mn was feasible only at final pH values ≥ 9.0 in all systems with WA and at pH 6.0–6.4 using BC. These conclusions were confirmed by treating actual AMD with variable doses of both materials. The water-leaching potential of toxic elements from the AMD/BC treatment residue complied with the limits for inert waste. In contrast, the residue of AMD/WA treatment leached non-toxic quantities of Cr and substantial amounts of Al due to high residual alkalinity. To minimize the amount of secondary waste generated by BC application, its use emerges particularly beneficial after AMD neutralization in the finishing step intended for Mn removal.

Remediation of acid mine drainage and immobilization of rare earth elements: Comparison between natural and residual alkaline materials

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a well-known source of toxic trace metals in freshwaters. Traditional passive treatment systems rely on AMD neutralization with limestone and removal of most common toxic transition metals such as Cu and Zn with little attention to rare earth elements (REE). Alkaline waste materials now receive increasing attention as low cost AMD treatment alternatives in the circular economy. This study was set up to identify the efficiency of alkaline waste materials remediating AMD and scavenging REE in addition to other toxic trace elements. An AMD sample was collected from a lixiviate coming from pyrite heaps in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (pH = 1.8, 30 μM ∑REY). The sample was treated with either blast furnace slag (BFS) generated during smelting of iron ore in a blast furnace or biomass ashes (BA) derived from combustion of biomass, thereby using analytical grade CaCO3, and NaOH as reference products. The batch alkalinization experiments were conducted by adding each alkaline material at an amount to obtain an equal pH to ≈6.5. The required amounts of the products were NaOH < CaCO3<BFS < BA in line with their acid neutralizing capacities. The largest removal of sulfate from water was obtained in the CaCO3 treatment suggesting gypsum precipitation which was lower with BA and BFS and virtually absent with NaOH, these trends were confirmed by SEM-EDX and XRD. Both BFS and BA removed more Fe than CaCO3 and NaOH. The REE elements were well removed by all treatments (>99%) and the remaining REE concentrations in the solutions were clearly lower than values for Cu and Zn. The Zn and Cu removals were not consistently high enough (except with NaOH) to meet environmental limits in the discharge waters. The largest efficiency for REE removals was obtained with CaCO3. Indirect evidence here suggests that gypsum is a better host for the trivalent REE than Fe(III) minerals in the precipitates. The ionic radii of trivalent REE are more similar to Ca2+ than to Fe3+, explaining the better potential of gypsum as REE host. This study showed also the potential of BFS as alkaline agent for the remediation of AMD in terms of its higher alkalinity generation potential as compared to BA, thus making BA less promising than BFS.

Application of alkaline sludge based LDHs in Cd and Cu polluted wastewater remediation: Process and mechanism

The alkaline sludge produced by the neutralization treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) is not only large and difficult to treat, but also prone to secondary pollution. The cost of conventional sludge treatment technology is high, so there is an urgent need to develop new methods. The process of neutralizing AMD is similar to the co-precipitation reaction of LDHs, so the cost of recovering LDHs from AMD is lower, but the application performance of LDHs is limited by the stacking of laminates. In this paper, the structure of LDHs was optimized by adding biochar (BC) during the neutralization process of AMD. After adding 40 % BC, the crystal planes of alkaline sludge based LDHs (AS-LDHs) became more parallel, and the adsorption properties of Cd and Cu were increased by 2.7 and 1.95 times, with the maximum adsorption amounts of 901.5 and 231.3 mg/g, respectively. The relevant removal mechanism was investigated in depth at the electronic scale by experiments combined with DFT calculations. Since AS-LDHs have the advantages of good acid stability, low zero-point charge and strong adsorption and regeneration capacity, this method has a broad application prospect.

Practical application for legacy acid mine drainage (AMD) prevention and treatment technologies in karst-dominated regions: A case study

Acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned mines in karst-dominated regions in southwestern China was causing contamination of groundwater and surface streams. To avert the unwise decisions of “pollution first before treatment” during pre-mining, mid-mining and post-mining activities, this paper proposes a contaminant migration prevention technical framework covering 4 comprehensive processes. The formation mechanism of spring pollution, engineering remediation processes and contamination treatment effects were described in Longdong Spring. In 2018, the Longdong Spring water had Fe 33.83 mg/L and Mn 3.60 mg/L, exceeding the Chinese surface water standard (0.3 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L in GB 3838–2002) by 112 and 36 times, respectively. In 2020, after grout blocking, in situ treatment and wetland remediation, the highest Fe was 4.5 mg/L in a short period, and the spring water pollution days in this year were 42 days compared with the previous 320 spring water pollution days in 2018. In 2021, two years of remediation with the implementation of terminal remediation wetlands, the Fe was less than 0.03 mg/L compared with the previous 33.83 mg/L, and the water quality reached water standard (less than 0.3 mg/L). At present, Longdong Spring has become one of the most beautiful natural local landscapes.

The Mixture of Limes in Acid Mine Drainage Treatment

In this study the mixture of limes was used to treat acid mine drainage (AMD) or acid rock drainage (ARD). The results showed that AMD can be treated by a mixture of limes (CHL). CHL was a mixture of carbide and hydrated limes. Arsenic (As) was decreased after reaction with CHL. 0.5 g of CHL with an interval time of 20 mins was chosen as the best parameter for treating AMD. pH value was increased from 3.29 to 6.69 and as concentration was decreased from 3.273 mg/L to 0.002 mg/L. Both of the results obtained after the reaction complied with Standards A and B of the Environmental Act 1974.

Utilizing Recycled concrete aggregate for treating Acid mine drainage

This study focuses on treating Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) using Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly material. RCA is utilized, considering its availability at low cost, to reduce heavy metal and sulfate concentration in AMD and neutralize its acidity in batch experimental mode. To that end, the adsorptive properties of RCA were characterized before and after adsorption by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), elemental mapping, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements, and X-ray Diffraction. Furthermore, the organic functional groups of the tested materials were identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Adsorption parameters such as dosage, contact time, the grain size distribution of adsorbent particles, and the solution pH, were optimized for enhancing the removal performance. The pH point of zero charges for the RCA sample was defined. The results revealed that RCA is a potential eco-friendly material for AMD treatment. The concentration of sulfate in the tested AMD water was reduced by approximately 84%, while that of the metal elements declined as follows: iron 100%, manganese 95%, copper 66%, zinc 97%, and lead 76%. Also, the pH value of AMD water increased rapidly and reached neutral by using small quantities of RCA (≤1g/L).

In-situ immobilization of arsenic and antimony containing acid mine drainage through chemically forming layered double hydroxides

Acid mine drainage (AMD) rich in arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) is considered as a significant environmental challenge internationally. However, simultaneous removal of As and Sb from AMD is still inadequately studied. In this study, a highly effective and simple approach was proposed for mitigating As and Sb-rich AMD, which involves in-situ formation of layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Following the treatment, the residual concentrations of iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), sulfate, As and Sb in field AMD were decreased from their initial concentrations of 1690, 1524, 2055, 7.8 and 10.6 mg L−1, respectively, to 1.3, 12.4, 623, 0.006 and 0.004 mg L−1, respectively. Chemical formula of the resulting As and Sb-loaded LDHs can be identified as Mg4.226Fe2.024OH2SO4AsSb0.006∙mH2O. The dissolution rates of metal(loid)s in As and Sb-loaded LDH were lower than 1% under strongly acidic and alkaline environments. In presence of the mixed adsorbates, the As immobilization capacity by LDHs was significantly decreased, with an apparent intervention from Sb. However, As did not have a significant effect on the immobilization of Sb by LDH. As was immobilized by LDHs through anion exchange and complexation with —OH groups, while Sb was captured by anion exchange and complexation with MgH2O62+. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further proved the above conclusions. This novel approach is effective and can be applied for in-situ AMD treatment from abandoned mines.

Analisis Pengaruh Kapur Tohor (CaO) dan Tawas Terhadap Parameter TSS dan pH di Desa Huta Dame Kecamatan Penyabungan Utara Kabupaten Mandailing Natal

The people's gold mining activities in Huta Dame Village, Kotanopan Utara District, Mandailing Natal are still very simple. The purpose of this study was to analyze the TSS and pH parameters around the gold mining area so that they comply with quality standards. This research method is by interviews and direct observation to the field. The results of the analysis showed that the quality of acid mine drainage before treatment was 4.26 and after the addition of quicklime in 1 gram it was still acidic but in the addition of quicklime in the 65th minute (3 grams) a pH of 6.02 was obtained and it met the quality standard. The addition of 1 and 3 grams of alum is still acidic and this can cause the air in the mining environment to be corrosive due to the large amount of heavy metals originating from rocks which can cause environmental damage, due to excessive use of mercury resulting in the emergence of acid mine drainage. The addition of 1 and 3 grams of quicklime, TSS values 48 &amp; 38 mg/l . The TSS values for the addition of 1 &amp; 3 grams of alum were 20 &amp; 28 mg/l and met the quality standards. Thus the use of quicklime in gold mining waste is more effective than the use of alum as an acid mine drainage treatment method.

Process and mechanism of recovering layered double hydroxides (LDHs) from acid mine drainage (AMD) and synergetic removal of manganese

The neutralization-precipitation method is widely used for treating acid mine drainage (AMD). However, the accumulation of sludge and the requirement for a high pH for the precipitation of Mn2+ limit the widespread application of this technology. In this work, layer double hydroxides (LDHs) were obtained by chemical neutralization of AMD, and the mechanism of LDHs for synergistic removal of Mn2+ was investigated by studying the morphological of metal elements during the neutralization process. The results showed that pH=8.5 was the critical condition for the formation of LDHs, and the sludge mainly consisted of Mg-Al-LDHs and manganese oxides. With increasing pH, Mn2+ was synergistically removed by LDHs through ion exchange (at the site 6) and complexation (with Mg-O). At pH=9.0, the concentration of Mn2+ was reduced to 1.5 mg/L, but it should be noted that high pH could destroy the structure of LDHs. Moreover, LDHs recovered from actual AMD were also found to have the ability to remove environmental pollutants. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the morphological change of metal elements during the neutralization process and the mechanism of Mn2+ removal, but also provide new insights for the recycling and utilization of neutralized sludge.

Towards an understanding of the factors controlling bacterial diversity and activity in semi-passive Fe: and As-oxidizing bioreactors treating arsenic-rich acid mine drainage.

Semi-passive bioreactors based on iron and arsenic oxidation and co-precipitation are promising for the treatment of As-rich acid mine drainages. However, their performance in the field remains variable and unpredictable. Two bioreactors filled with distinct biomass carriers (plastic or a mix of wood and pozzolana) were monitored during one year. We characterized the dynamic of the bacterial communities in these bioreactors, and explored the influence of environmental and operational drivers on their diversity and activity. Bacterial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. The aioA genes and transcripts were quantified by qPCR and RT-qPCR. Bacterial communities were dominated by several iron-oxidizing genera. Shifts in the communities were attributed to operational and physiochemical parameters including the nature of the biomass carrier, the water pH, temperature, arsenic and iron concentrations. The bioreactor filled with wood and pozzolana showed a better resilience to disturbances, related to a higher bacterial alpha diversity. We evidenced for the first time aioA expression in a treatment system, associated with the presence of active Thiomonas spp. This confirmed the contribution of biological arsenite oxidation to arsenic removal. The resilience and the functional redundancy of the communities developed in the bioreactors conferred robustness and stability to the treatment systems.

Bio-recovery of CuS nanoparticles from the treatment of acid mine drainage with potential photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

In the present work, CuS nanoparticles were biorecovered from a real acid mine drainage (AMD) and its photocatalytic and antibacterial activities were studied. CuS were formed by delivering biogenic H2S produced by a continuous sulfidogenic bioreactor to an off-line vessel containing the AMD. The main physico-chemical properties of CuS nanoparticles were analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy, TEM, FE-SEM, XRD and XPS. Moreover, its photocatalytic activity on the photodegradation of organic dyes in water and its antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains were studied and compared with CuS nanoparticles synthetized from a CuSO4 aqueous solution based on the same synthesis method. CuS nanoparticles from the real AMD showed similar physico-chemical properties and photocatalytic and antibacterial activities in comparison to CuS nanoparticles formed with the copper solutions. These results open the way to recover valorous CuS nanoparticles from AMD with potential industrial applications using a metal bioremediation process based on sulfidogenic bioreactors.

Microbial electrolysis cell as an effective tool for mitigating the toxic effects of Cu2+ on microorganisms in the acid mine drainage treatment: Efficacy and mechanisms

It is poorly understood how the mechanism of heavy metals affect sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) system, however, this is essential to improve the effectiveness of sulfate reduction in acid mine drainage (AMD). This study evaluated the impact of Cu2+ on MEC performance using SRBs enriched biocathode. The sulfate reduction rate and pathway, the fate of Cu, as well as the succession of microbial community were investigated. Results showed that MEC performance was optimized at influent Cu2+ concentration of 20 mg/L, while slight inhibition was observed at 40 mg/L. The removal of Cu2+ was accomplished through bioprecipitation and biosorption, forming CuS and Cu(OH)2. However, MEC performance was inhibited at higher Cu2+ concentrations (60 mg/L) due to damaged cell structure, increased charge transfer internal resistance, and altered microbial communities. Specifically, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota decreased, and functional genes related to sulfate reduction metabolism were reduced, leading to impairment of the assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathways. This knowledge provides revealing insights and theoretical support for developing a feasible approach to realize the treatment of wastewater containing multiple pollutants.