Treatment of acidic mine drainage in up-flow sulfidogenic reactor: Metal recovery and the pH neutralization

•Two stage ethanol fed up flow sulfidogenic reactor was operated for 245 days.•Maximum sulfate reduction was 91.25% when the influent sulfate was 4000 mg/L.•Acidic influent was neutralized with the recycled reactor effluent.•Over 87% Fe, over 98% Cu, Co, Zn and Ni and 49% Mn removal was achieved.