Abstract
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) poses global threats to ecosystems and has compelled the optimization of passive treatment systems via the understanding of internal hydrochemical and biological kinetics. This study systematically analyzed the performance of an integrated treatment scheme combining Anaerobic Limestone Drains (ALD) and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) through a multi-scale experimental and modeling approach. At the laboratory scale, the ALD reactor effectively neutralized highly acidic AMD (pH 0.92), which aligned with the stabilization of the Desulfovibrio-dominated syntrophic network. This integrated strategy confirmed the tight coupling between chemical and biological reaction kinetics, providing theoretical foundations and alternative approaches for optimizing upscaled passive AMD remediation.