1
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Kim M, Cha IT, Li M, Park SJ. Unraveling interspecies cross-feeding during anaerobic lignin degradation for bioenergy applications. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142588. [PMID: 38866340 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Lignin, a major component of plant biomass, remains underutilized for renewable biofuels due to its complex and heterogeneous structure. Although investigations into depolymerizing lignin using fungi are well-established, studies of microbial pathways that enable anaerobic lignin breakdown linked with methanogenesis are limited. Through an enrichment cultivation approach with inoculation of freshwater sediment, we enriched a microbial community capable of producing methane during anaerobic lignin degradation. We reconstructed the near-complete population genomes of key lignin degraders and methanogens using metagenome-assembled genomes finally selected in this study (MAGs; 92 bacterial and 4 archaeal MAGs affiliated into 45 and 2 taxonomic groups, respectively). This study provides genetic evidence of microbial interdependence in conversion of lignin to methane in a syntrophic community. Metagenomic analysis revealed metabolic linkages, with lignin-hydrolyzing and/or fermentative bacteria such as the genera Alkalibaculum and Propionispora transforming lignin breakdown products into compounds such as acetate to feed methanogens (two archaeal MAGs classified into the genus Methanosarcina or UBA6 of the family Methanomassiliicoccaceae). Understanding the synergistic relationships between microbes that convert lignin could inform strategies for producing renewable bioenergy and treating aromatic-contaminated environments through anaerobic biodegradation processes. Overall, this study offers fundamental insights into complex community-level anaerobic lignin metabolism, highlighting hitherto unknown players, interactions, and pathways in this biotechnologically valuable process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minji Kim
- Department of Biology, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju, 63243, South Korea
| | - In-Tae Cha
- Climate Change and Environmental Biology Research Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, South Korea
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Soo-Je Park
- Department of Biology, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju, 63243, South Korea.
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2
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Zhou J, Lin WH, Yu YL, Dong CD, Zhang H, Hu Z, Kao CM. Transitioning weathered oil fields towards new energy: A review on utilizing hydrogenotrophic methanogens for petroleum hydrocarbons remediation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 477:135279. [PMID: 39047569 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The weathering process can cause the volatilization of light components in crude oil, leading to the accumulation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in weathered oil field soils. These TPH compounds are relatively resistant to biodegradation, posing a significant environmental hazard by contributing to soil degradation. TPH represents a complex mixture of petroleum-based hydrocarbons classified as persistent organic pollutants in soil and groundwater. The release of TPH pollutants into the environment poses serious threats to ecosystems and human health. Currently, various methods are available for TPH-contaminated soil remediation, with bioremediation technology recognized as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach. While converting TPH to CO2 is a common remediation method, the complex structures and diverse types of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) involved can result in excessive CO2 generation, potentially exacerbating the greenhouse effect. Alternatively, transforming TPH into energy forms like methane through bioremediation, followed by collection and reuse, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. This process relies on the synergistic interaction between Methanogens archaea and syntrophic bacteria, forming a consortium known as the oil-degrading bacterial consortium. Methanogens produce methane through anaerobic digestion (AD), with hydrogenotrophic methanogens (HTMs) utilizing H2 as an electron donor, playing a crucial role in biomethane production. Candidatus Methanoliparia (Ca. Methanoliparia) was found in the petroleum archaeal community of weathered Oil field in northeast China. Ca. Methanoliparia has demonstrated its independent ability to decompose and produce new energy (biomethane) without symbiosis, contribute to transitioning weathered oil fields towards new energy. Therefore, this review focuses on the principles, mechanisms, and developmental pathways of HTMs during new energy production in the degradation of PHs. It also discusses strategies to enhance TPH degradation and recovery methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaping Zhou
- China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, Karamay, PR China
| | - Wei-Han Lin
- China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, Karamay, PR China
| | - Ying-Liang Yu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Di Dong
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Haibing Zhang
- China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, Karamay, PR China
| | - Zhongtao Hu
- School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chih-Ming Kao
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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3
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Randazzo A, Venturi S, Tassi F. Soil processes modify the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from CO 2- and CH 4-dominated geogenic and landfill gases: A comprehensive study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171483. [PMID: 38458441 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Degradation mechanisms affecting non-methane volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during gas uprising from different hypogenic sources to the surface were investigated through extensive sampling surveys in areas encompassing a high enthalpy hydrothermal system associated with active volcanism, a CH4-rich sedimentary basin and a municipal waste landfill. For a comprehensive framework, published data from medium-to-high enthalpy hydrothermal systems were also included. The investigated systems were characterised by peculiar VOC suites that reflected the conditions of the genetic environments in which temperature, contents of organic matter, and gas fugacity had a major role. Differences in VOC patterns between source (gas vents and landfill gas) and soil gases indicated VOC transformations in soil. Processes acting in soil preferentially degraded high-molecular weight alkanes with respect to the low-molecular weight ones. Alkenes and cyclics roughly behaved like alkanes. Thiophenes were degraded to a larger extent with respect to alkylated benzenes, which were more reactive than benzene. Furan appeared less degraded than its alkylated homologues. Dimethylsulfoxide was generally favoured with respect to dimethylsulfide. Limonene and camphene were relatively unstable under aerobic conditions, while α-pinene was recalcitrant. O-bearing organic compounds (i.e., aldehydes, esters, ketones, alcohols, organic acids and phenol) acted as intermediate products of the ongoing VOC degradations in soil. No evidence for the degradation of halogenated compounds and benzothiazole was observed. This study pointed out how soil degradation processes reduce hypogenic VOC emissions and the important role played by physicochemical and biological parameters on the effective VOC attenuation capacity of the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Randazzo
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - S Venturi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - F Tassi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
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4
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Ni S, Lv W, Ji Z, Wang K, Mei Y, Li Y. Progress of Crude Oil Gasification Technology Assisted by Microorganisms in Reservoirs. Microorganisms 2024; 12:702. [PMID: 38674646 PMCID: PMC11051786 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Crude oil gasification bacteria, including fermenting bacteria, hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria, reducing bacteria, and methanogenic bacteria, participate in multi-step reactions involving initial activation, intermediate metabolism, and the methanogenesis of crude oil hydrocarbons. These bacteria degrade crude oil into smaller molecules such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, and formic acid. Ultimately, they convert it into methane, which can be utilized or stored as a strategic resource. However, the current challenges in crude oil gasification include long production cycles and low efficiency. This paper provides a summary of the microbial flora involved in crude oil gasification, the gasification metabolism pathways within reservoirs, and other relevant information. It specifically focuses on analyzing the factors that affect the efficiency of crude oil gasification metabolism and proposes suggestions for improving this efficiency. These studies deepen our understanding of the potential of reservoir ecosystems and provide valuable insights for future reservoir development and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Ni
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; (S.N.); (K.W.); (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
- Institute of Porous Flow & Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China;
| | - Weifeng Lv
- Institute of Porous Flow & Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Enhanced Oil Recovery, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, CNPC, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zemin Ji
- Institute of Porous Flow & Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China;
| | - Kai Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; (S.N.); (K.W.); (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
- Institute of Porous Flow & Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China;
| | - Yuhao Mei
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; (S.N.); (K.W.); (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
- Institute of Porous Flow & Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China;
| | - Yushu Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; (S.N.); (K.W.); (Y.M.); (Y.L.)
- Institute of Porous Flow & Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China;
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5
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Guan J, Huang J, Sun Y, Li C, Wan Y, Wei G, Kang R, Pang H, Shi Q, McHugh T, Ma J. Understanding petroleum vapor fate and transport through high resolution analysis of two distinct vapor plumes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169464. [PMID: 38123082 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
No field study has provided a detailed characterization of the molecular composition and spatial distribution of a vadose zone plume of petroleum volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which is critical to improve the current understanding of petroleum VOC transport and fate. This is study reports a high-resolution analysis of two distinct vapor plumes emanating from two different light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) sources (an aliphatic-rich LNAPL for Zone #1vs an aromatic-rich LNAPL for Zone #2) at a large petrochemical site. Although deep soil vapor signatures were similar to the source zone LNAPL signatures, the composition of the shallow soil vapors reflected preferential attenuation of certain hydrocarbons over others during upward transport in the vadose zone. Between deeper and shallower soil gas samples, attenuation of aromatics was observed under all conditions, but important differences were observed in attenuation to aliphatic compound classes. Attenuation of all aliphatic compounds was observed under aerobic conditions but little attenuation of any aliphatics was observed under anoxic conditions without methane. In contrast, under methanogenic conditions, paraffins attenuated more than isoparaffins and naphthenes. These results suggest that isoparafins and naphthenes may present more of a vapor intrusion risk than benzene or other aromatic hydrocarbons commonly considered to be petroleum vapor intrusion risk drivers. While the overall vapor composition changed significantly within the vadose zone, diagnostic ratios of relatively recalcitrant alkylcyclopentanes were preserved in shallow soil vapor samples. These alkylcyclopentanes may be useful for distinguishing between petroleum vapor intrusion and other sources of petroleum VOCs detected in indoor air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Jierui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Yue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Chong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Yuruo Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Guo Wei
- Beijing Beitou Eco-environment Co., Ltd, Canal East St. 6th, Beijing 101117, China
| | - Rifeng Kang
- Beijing Beitou Eco-environment Co., Ltd, Canal East St. 6th, Beijing 101117, China
| | - Hongwei Pang
- Beijing Beitou Eco-environment Co., Ltd, Canal East St. 6th, Beijing 101117, China
| | - Quan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Thomas McHugh
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Street, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77098, USA
| | - Jie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China.
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6
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Mohamad Shahimin MF, Siddique T. Uncovering Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation Pathways in Oil Sands Tailings from Two Different Tailings Ponds via Metabolite and Functional Gene Analyses. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12010-024-04855-0. [PMID: 38376742 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-024-04855-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Oil sands tailings, a slurry of alkaline water, silt, clay, unrecovered bitumen, and residual hydrocarbons generated during bitumen extraction, are contained in ponds. Indigenous microbes metabolize hydrocarbons and emit greenhouse gases from the tailings. Metabolism of hydrocarbons in tailings ponds of two operators, namely, Canadian Natural Upgrading Limited (CNUL) and Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL), has not been comprehensively investigated. Previous reports have revealed sequential and preferential hydrocarbon degradation of alkanes in primary cultures established from CNUL and CNRL tailings amended separately with mixtures of hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, iso-alkanes, paraffinic solvent, or naphtha). In this study, activation pathway of hydrocarbon biodegradation in these primary cultures was investigated. The functional gene analysis revealed that fumarate addition was potentially the primary activation pathway of alkanes in all cultures. However, the metabolite analysis only detected transient succinylated 2-methylpentane and 2-methylbutane metabolites during initial methanogenic biodegradation of iso-alkanes and paraffinic solvent in all CNUL and CNRL cultures amended with iso-alkanes and paraffinic solvent. Under sulfidogenic conditions (prepared only with CNUL tailings amended with iso-alkanes), succinylated 2-methylpentane persisted throughout incubation period of ~ 1100 days, implying dead-end nature of the metabolite. Though no metabolite was detected in n-alkanes- and naphtha-amended cultures during incubation, assA/masD genes related to Peptococcaceae were amplified in all CNUL and CNRL primary cultures. The findings of this present study suggest that microbial communities in different tailings ponds can biodegrade hydrocarbons through fumarate addition as activation pathway under methanogenic and sulfidogenic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Faidz Mohamad Shahimin
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G7, Canada.
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Aras 2, Blok S2, UniCITI Alam Campus, 02100, Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia.
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G7, Canada
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7
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Gjini L, Kuznetsova A, Okpala G, Foght JM, Ulrich A, Siddique T. Aerobic biodegradation of cycloalkanes in non-aqueous extracted oil sands tailings. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140900. [PMID: 38065261 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Management of growing volumes of fluid fine tailings (FFT) is a significant challenge for oil sands industry. A potential alternative non-aqueous solvent extraction (NAE) process uses cycloalkane solvent such as cyclohexane or cyclopentane with very little water and generates smaller volumes of 'dry' solids (NAES) with residual solvent. Here we investigate remediation of NAES in a simulated bench-scale upland reclamation scenario. In the first study, microcosms with nutrient medium plus FFT as inoculum were amended with cyclohexane and incubated for ∼1 year, monitoring for cyclohexane biodegradation under aerobic conditions. Biodegradation of cyclohexane occurred under aerobic conditions with no metabolic intermediates detected. A second study using NAES mixed with FFT spiked with cyclohexane and cyclopentane, with or without additional nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), showed complete and rapid aerobic biodegradation of both cycloalkanes in NAES inoculated with FFT and supplemented with nutrients. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed dominance of Rhodoferax and members of Burkholderiaceae during aerobic cyclohexane biodegradation in FFT, and Hydrogenophaga, Acidovorax, Defluviimonas and members of Porticoccaceae during aerobic biodegradation of cyclohexane and cyclopentane in NAES inoculated with FFT and supplemented with nutrients. The findings indicate that biodegradation of cycloalkanes from NAES is possible under aerobic condition, which will contribute to the successful reclamation of oil sands tailings for land closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Gjini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Alsu Kuznetsova
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Gloria Okpala
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Julia M Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ania Ulrich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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8
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Heshka NE, Rathie K, Degenhardt D. An optimized extraction and gas chromatography analysis method for the quantification of diluent hydrocarbons in froth treatment tailings. J Sep Sci 2023; 46:e2300137. [PMID: 37449340 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202300137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Froth treatment tailings are one type of waste stream generated during the extraction of surface-mined oil sands bitumen. To remove water and solids from bitumen froth recovered during the water-based extraction process, hydrocarbon diluent is added, and settling and/or centrifugation are applied to the diluted bitumen froth, producing diluted bitumen and froth treatment tailings. While recovery processes are in place to remove and recycle the diluent from froth treatment tailings, some residual diluent can remain. Since tailings are stored in outdoor ponds, the residual diluent can have implications for methanogenic microbial processes and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. This work presents a methodology to accurately extract and quantify diluent hydrocarbons from froth treatment tailings using gas chromatography. A cold-start temperature program is used to separate diluent hydrocarbons from any residual bitumen in the sample, and diluent is quantified using commercial standards as well as unprocessed diluent. A series of extraction parameters were tested and results from multiple conditions are shown with a rationale for the selected optimized parameters. Quantification of diluent in tailings samples is demonstrated from 60 to 5329 μg/g, and results from quality control standards show an average diluent recovery of 100 ± 10%.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kara Rathie
- Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY, Devon, Canada
| | - Dani Degenhardt
- Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, Canada
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9
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Mohamad Shahimin MF, Siddique T. Biodegradation of 2-methylpentane in fluid fine tailings amended with a mixture of iso-alkanes under sulfate-reducing conditions. Can J Microbiol 2023; 69:362-368. [PMID: 37235883 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2023-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic microorganisms in Canada Natural Upgrading Limited (CNUL) fluid fine tailings (FFT) are sustained by residual solvent hydrocarbons. Although FFT are methanogenic in nature, sulfate-reducing microorganisms represent a significant portion of FFT bacterial community. In this study, we examined biodegradation of three iso-alkanes (2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane), representing major iso-alkanes in paraffinic solvent, in CNUL FFT under sulfate-reducing conditions. During ∼1100 days of incubation, only 2-methylpentane was degraded partially, whereas 2-methylbutane and 3-methylpentane were not degraded. During active degradation of 2-methylpentane, the bacterial community was dominated by Anaerolineaceae followed by Syntrophaceae, Peptococcaceae, Desulfobacteraceae, and Desulfobulbaceae. The archaeal community was co-dominated by acetoclastic (Methanosaetaceae) and hydrogenotrophic (Methanobacteriaceae) methanogens. This study underlines the limited capability of the microbial community indigenous to CNUL FFT in degrading recalcitrant iso-alkanes under sulfate-reducing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada
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10
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Slater GF, Goad CA, Lindsay MBJ, Mumford KG, Colenbrander Nelson TE, Brady AL, Jessen GL, Warren LA. Isotopic and Chemical Assessment of the Dynamics of Methane Sources and Microbial Cycling during Early Development of an Oil Sands Pit Lake. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122509. [PMID: 34946113 PMCID: PMC8703832 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Water-capped tailings technology (WCTT) is a key component of the reclamation strategies in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) of northeastern Alberta, Canada. The release of microbial methane from tailings emplaced within oil sands pit lakes, and its subsequent microbial oxidation, could inhibit the development of persistent oxygen concentrations within the water column, which are critical to the success of this reclamation approach. Here, we describe the results of a four-year (2015-2018) chemical and isotopic (δ13C) investigation into the dynamics of microbial methane cycling within Base Mine Lake (BML), the first full-scale pit lake commissioned in the AOSR. Overall, the water-column methane concentrations decreased over the course of the study, though this was dynamic both seasonally and annually. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) distributions and δ13C demonstrated that dissolved methane, primarily input via fluid fine tailings (FFT) porewater advection, was oxidized by the water column microbial community at all sampling times. Modeling and under-ice observations indicated that the dissolution of methane from bubbles during ebullition, or when trapped beneath ice, was also an important source of dissolved methane. The addition of alum to BML in the fall of 2016 impacted the microbial cycling in BML, leading to decreased methane oxidation rates, the short-term dominance of a phototrophic community, and longer-term shifts in the microbial community metabolism. Overall, our results highlight a need to understand the dynamic nature of these microbial communities and the impact of perturbations on the associated biogeochemical cycling within oil sands pit lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg F. Slater
- School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.A.G.); (A.L.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Corey A. Goad
- School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.A.G.); (A.L.B.)
| | - Matthew B. J. Lindsay
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada;
| | - Kevin G. Mumford
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada;
| | - Tara E. Colenbrander Nelson
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada; (T.E.C.N.); (L.A.W.)
| | - Allyson L. Brady
- School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.A.G.); (A.L.B.)
| | - Gerdhard L. Jessen
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnologicas, Faculated de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | - Lesley A. Warren
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada; (T.E.C.N.); (L.A.W.)
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11
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Seasonal dynamics of methanotrophic bacteria in a boreal oil sands end-pit lake. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0145521. [PMID: 34818104 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01455-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Base Mine Lake (BML) is the first full-scale demonstration end pit lake for the oil sands mining industry in Canada. We examined aerobic methanotrophic bacteria over all seasons for five years in this dimictic lake. Methanotrophs comprised up to 58% of all bacterial reads in 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses (median 2.8%), and up to 2.7 × 104 cells mL-1 of water (median 0.5 × 103) based on qPCR of pmoA genes. Methanotrophic activity and populations in the lake water were highest during fall turnover, and remained high through the winter ice-covered period into spring turnover. They declined during summer stratification, especially in the epilimnion. Three methanotroph genera (Methylobacter, Methylovulum, and Methyloparacoccus) cycled seasonally, based on both relative and absolute abundance measurements. Methylobacter and Methylovulum populations peaked in winter/spring, when methane oxidation activity was psychrophilic. Methyloparacoccus populations increased in the water column through summer and fall, when methane oxidation was mesophilic, and also predominated in the underlying tailings sediment. Other, less abundant genera grew primarily during summer, possibly due to distinct CH4/O2 microniches created during thermal stratification. These data are consistent with temporal and spatial niche differentiation based on temperature, CH4 and O2. This pit lake displays methane cycling and methanotroph population dynamics similar to natural boreal lakes. Importance statement: The study examined methanotrophic bacteria in an industrial end pit lake, combining molecular DNA methods (both quantitative and descriptive) with biogeochemical measurements. The lake was sampled over 5 years, in all four seasons, as often as weekly, and included sub-ice samples. The resulting multi-season and multi-year dataset is unique in its size and intensity, and allowed us to document clear and consistent seasonal patterns of growth and decline of three methanotroph genera (Methylobacter, Methylovulum, and Methyloparacoccus). Laboratory experiments suggested that one major control of this succession was niche partitioning based on temperature. The study helps to understand microbial dynamics in engineered end-pit lakes, but we propose that the dynamics are typical of boreal stratified lakes, and widely applicable in microbial ecology and limnology. Methane oxidising bacteria are important model organisms in microbial ecology, and have implications for global climate change.
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Does Addition of Phosphate and Ammonium Nutrients Affect Microbial Activity in Froth Treatment Affected Tailings? Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112224. [PMID: 34835351 PMCID: PMC8620261 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined greenhouse gas (GHG) production upon the addition of ammonium and phosphate to mature fine tailing (MFT) samples from Alberta's Pond 2/3 (at 5 and 15 m) and Pond 7 (12.5 m) in microcosm studies. The methane production rate in unamended Pond 2/3 MFT correlated with sample age; the production rate was higher in the less dense, more recently discharged MFT samples and lower in the denser, deeper sample. Adding small amounts of naphtha increased methane production, but there was no correlation with increasing naphtha, indicating that naphtha may partition into bitumen, reducing its bioavailability. Although non-detectable phosphate and low ammonium in the pore water indicate that these nutrients were potentially limiting microbial activity, their addition did not significantly affect methanogenesis but somewhat enhanced sulphate and nitrate reduction. Neither ammonium nor phosphate were detected in the pore water when added at low concentrations, but when added at high concentrations, 25-35% phosphate and 30-45% ammonium were lost. These ions likely sorbed to MFT minerals such as kaolinite, which have microbial activity governed by phosphate/ammonium desorption. Hence, multiple limitations affected microbial activity. Sulphate was less effective than nitrate was in inhibiting methanogenesis because H2S may be a less effective inhibitor than NOx- intermediates are, and/or H2S may be more easily abiotically removed. With nitrate reduction, N2O, a potent GHG was produced but eventually metabolized.
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Moussa SG, Staebler RM, You Y, Leithead A, Yousif MA, Brickell P, Beck J, Jiang Z, Liggio J, Li SM, Wren SN, Brook JR, Darlington A, Cober SG. Fugitive Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Tailings Pond in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12831-12840. [PMID: 34524801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tailings ponds in the oil sands (OS) region in Alberta, Canada, have been associated with fugitive emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants to the atmosphere. However, the contribution of tailings ponds to the total fugitive emissions of VOCs from OS operations remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, a field study was conducted in the summer of 2017 at Suncor's Pond 2/3 to estimate emissions of a suite of pollutants including 68 VOCs using a combination of micrometeorological methods and measurements from a flux tower. The results indicate that in 2017, Pond 2/3 was an emission source of 3322 ± 727 tons of VOCs including alkanes, aromatics, and oxygenated and sulfur-containing organics. While the total VOC emissions were approximately a factor of 2 higher than those reported by Suncor, the individual VOC species emissions varied by up to a factor of 12. A chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model was used to estimate the contribution of the tailings pond to VOC pollution events in a nearby First Nations and Metis community in Fort McKay. CMB results indicate that Suncor Pond 2/3 contributed up to 57% to the total mass of VOCs measured at Fort McKay, reinforcing the importance of accurate VOC emission estimation methods for tailings ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar G Moussa
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Ralf M Staebler
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Yuan You
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Amy Leithead
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Meguel A Yousif
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Peter Brickell
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - James Beck
- Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3Y7, Canada
| | - Zhimei Jiang
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Shao-Meng Li
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Sumi N Wren
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey R Brook
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 223 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R4, Canada
| | - Andrea Darlington
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Stewart G Cober
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
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Abstract
Oil sands surface mining in Alberta has generated over a billion cubic metres of waste, known as tailings, consisting of sands, silts, clays, and process-affected water that contains toxic organic compounds and chemical constituents. All of these tailings will eventually be reclaimed and integrated into one of two types of mine closure landforms: end pit lakes (EPLs) or terrestrial landforms with a wetland feature. In EPLs, tailings deposits are capped with several metres of water while in terrestrial landforms, tailings are capped with solid materials, such as sand or overburden. Because tailings landforms are relatively new, past research has heavily focused on the geotechnical and biogeochemical characteristics of tailings in temporary storage ponds, referred to as tailings ponds. As such, the geochemical stability of tailings landforms remains largely unknown. This review discusses five mechanisms of geochemical change expected in tailings landforms: consolidation, chemical mass loading via pore water fluxes, biogeochemical cycling, polymer degradation, and surface water and groundwater interactions. Key considerations and knowledge gaps with regard to the long-term geochemical stability of tailings landforms are identified, including salt fluxes and subsequent water quality, bioremediation and biogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and the biogeochemical implications of various tailings treatment methods meant to improve geotechnical properties of tailings, such as flocculant (polyacrylamide) and coagulant (gypsum) addition.
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15
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Methanogenic Biodegradation of iso-Alkanes by Indigenous Microbes from Two Different Oil Sands Tailings Ponds. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081569. [PMID: 34442648 PMCID: PMC8400375 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
iso-Alkanes, a major fraction of the solvents used in bitumen extraction from oil sand ores, are slow to biodegrade in anaerobic tailings ponds. We investigated methanogenic biodegradation of iso-alkane mixtures comprising either three (2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane) or five (2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 2-methylhexane, 2-methylheptane, 2-methyloctane) iso-alkanes representing paraffinic and naphtha solvents, respectively. Mature fine tailings (MFT) collected from two tailings ponds, having different residual solvents (paraffinic solvent in Canadian Natural Upgrading Limited (CNUL) and naphtha in Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL)), were amended separately with the two mixtures and incubated in microcosms for ~1600 d. The indigenous microbes in CNUL MFT produced methane from the three-iso-alkane mixture after a lag of ~200 d, completely depleting 2-methylpentane while partially depleting 2-methylbutane and 3-methylpentane. CNRL MFT exhibited a similar degradation pattern for the three iso-alkanes after a lag phase of ~700 d, but required 1200 d before beginning to produce methane from the five-iso-alkane mixture, preferentially depleting components in the order of decreasing carbon chain length. Peptococcaceae members were key iso-alkane-degraders in both CNUL and CNRL MFT but were associated with different archaeal partners. Co-dominance of acetoclastic (Methanosaeta) and hydrogenotrophic (Methanolinea and Methanoregula) methanogens was observed in CNUL MFT during biodegradation of three-iso-alkanes whereas CNRL MFT was enriched in Methanoregula during biodegradation of three-iso-alkanes and in Methanosaeta with five-iso-alkanes. This study highlights the different responses of indigenous methanogenic microbial communities in different oil sands tailings ponds to iso-alkanes.
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Saborimanesh N. Toward sustainable remediation of oil sands fine Tailings-A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 288:112418. [PMID: 33839539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Significant quantities of tailings are produced during the extraction of bitumen from oil sands. Tailings are stored in tailings ponds for several years before they can be appropriately managed. Current fine tailings management approaches include mechanical and/or chemical amendments of fine tailings (FT) to speed up tailings reclamation. However, complex structures of fine tailings, stringent tailings management regulations, failure in production of trafficable deposits with current FT reclamation technologies and biogenic gas (e.g., CH4) generations have prompted the re-evaluation of current FT remediation technologies and exploration of alternative biological treatments (e.g., bioaugmentation and biostimulation). Biological treatments have proven to effectively remediate environmental pollutants by creating favourable environments for the desire microorganisms. Thus their effects on FT reclamation have been increasingly investigated in the last two decades. Many of these studies confirmed that biological treatments can improve FT dewatering and densification. However, other studies found that not all biological treatments can effectively suppress CH4 generations or they may lead to the generation of other biogenic gases (e.g., H2S, N2O, NO). Therefore, it is critical to identify potential environmental risks associated with the biological treatments before their full-scale applications. This review revolved around two questions. First, whether bioaugmentation and biostimulation methods can improve FT reclamation. Secondly, what are the potential environmental issues that may arise from the applications of biological treatments. To address these questions, the existing peer-reviewed documents on fine tailings management were carefully reviewed to provide an introduction to the currently practiced FT reclamation technologies. Further discussions on biological treatments and their potentials and limitations were also presented. Finally, the review highlighted the knowledge gap in the area of biological treatments of FT and provided recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayereh Saborimanesh
- Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY, 1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, AB T9G 1A8, Canada.
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17
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A Deep Look into the Microbiology and Chemistry of Froth Treatment Tailings: A Review. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9051091. [PMID: 34069522 PMCID: PMC8161226 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR), over 1.25 billion m3 of tailings waste from the bitumen extraction process are stored in tailings ponds. Fugitive emissions associated with residual hydrocarbons in tailings ponds pose an environmental concern and include greenhouse gases (GHGs), reduced sulphur compounds (RSCs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Froth treatment tailings (FTT) are a specific type of tailings waste stream from the bitumen froth treatment process that contains bioavailable diluent: either naphtha or paraffins. Tailings ponds that receive FTT are associated with the highest levels of biogenic gas production, as diverse microbial communities biodegrade the residual diluent. In this review, current literature regarding the composition, chemical analysis, and microbial degradation of FTT and its constituents is presented in order to provide a more complete understanding of the complex chemistry and biological processes related to fugitive emissions from tailings ponds receiving FTT. Characterizing the composition and biodegradation of FTT is important from an environmental perspective to better predict emissions from tailings ponds and guide tailings pond management decisions.
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18
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Sheng Y, Liu Y, Yang J, Dong H, Liu B, Zhang H, Li A, Wei Y, Li G, Zhang D. History of petroleum disturbance triggering the depth-resolved assembly process of microbial communities in the vadose zone. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 402:124060. [PMID: 33254835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biogeochemical gradient forms in vadose zone, yet little is known about the assembly processes of microbial communities in this zone under petroleum disturbance. This study collected vadose zone soils at three sites with 0, 5, and 30 years of petroleum contamination to unravel the vertical microbial community successions and their assembly mechanisms. The results showed that petroleum hydrocarbons exhibited higher concentrations at the long-term contaminated site, showing negative impacts on some soil properties, retarding in the surface soils and decreasing along soil depth. Cultivable fraction of heterotrophic bacteria and microbial α-diversity decreased along depth in vadose zones with short-term/no contamination history, but exhibited an opposite trend with long-term contamination history. Petroleum contamination intensified the vertical heterogeneity of microbial communities based on the contamination time. Microbial co-occurrence network revealed the lowest species co-occurrence pattern at the long-term contaminated site. The distance-decay patterns and null model analysis together suggested distinct assembly mechanisms at three sites, where dispersal limitation (42-45%) was higher and variable and homogenizing selections were lower (37-38%) in vadose zones under petroleum disturbance than those in the uncontaminated vadose zone. Our findings help to better understand the subsurface biogeochemical cycles and bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated vadose zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhi Sheng
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056, USA
| | - Ying Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Juejie Yang
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hailiang Dong
- Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056, USA
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Aiyang Li
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guanghe Li
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Dayi Zhang
- School of Environment & State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Research Institute for Environmental Innovation (Suzhou), Tsinghua, Suzhou 215163, China.
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19
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Zamanpour MK, Kaliappan RS, Rockne KJ. Gas ebullition from petroleum hydrocarbons in aquatic sediments: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 271:110997. [PMID: 32778285 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Gas ebullition in sediment results from biogenic gas production by mixtures of bacteria and archaea. It often occurs in organic-rich sediments that have been impacted by petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) and other anthropogenic pollution. Ebullition occurs under a relatively narrow set of biological, chemical, and sediment geomechanical conditions. This process occurs in three phases: I) biogenic production of primarily methane and dissolved phase transport of the gases in the pore water to a bubble nucleation site, II) bubble growth and sediment fracture, and III) bubble rise to the surface. The rate of biogenic gas production in phase I and the resistance of the sediment to gas fracture in phase II play the most significant roles in ebullition kinetics. What is less understood is the role that substrate structure plays in the rate of methanogenesis that drives gas ebullition. It is well established that methanogens have a very restricted set of compounds that can serve as substrates, so any complex organic molecule must first be broken down to fermentable compounds. Given that most ebullition-active sediments are completely anaerobic, the well-known difficulty in degrading PHCs under anaerobic conditions suggests potential limitations on PHC-derived gas ebullition. To date, there are no studies that conclusively demonstrate that weathered PHCs can alone drive gas ebullition. This review consists of an overview of the factors affecting gas ebullition and the biochemistry of anaerobic PHC biodegradation and methanogenesis in sediment systems. We next compile results from the scholarly literature on PHCs serving as a source of methanogenesis. We combine these results to assess the potential for PHC-driven gas ebullition using energetics, kinetics, and sediment geomechanics analyses. The results suggest that short chain <C10 alkanes are the only PHC class that alone may have the potential to drive ebullition, and that PHC-derived methanogenesis likely plays a minor part in driving gas ebullition in contaminated sediments compared to natural organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raja Shankar Kaliappan
- Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Karl John Rockne
- Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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20
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Hidalgo KJ, Sierra-Garcia IN, Dellagnezze BM, de Oliveira VM. Metagenomic Insights Into the Mechanisms for Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Oil Supply Chain. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:561506. [PMID: 33072021 PMCID: PMC7530279 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.561506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Petroleum is a very complex and diverse organic mixture. Its composition depends on reservoir location and in situ conditions and changes once crude oil is spilled into the environment, making the characteristics associated with every spill unique. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common components of the crude oil and constitute a group of persistent organic pollutants. Due to their highly hydrophobic, and their low solubility tend to accumulate in soil and sediment. The process by which oil is sourced and made available for use is referred to as the oil supply chain and involves three parts: (1) upstream, (2) midstream and (3) downstream activities. As consequence from oil supply chain activities, crude oils are subjected to biodeterioration, acidification and souring, and oil spills are frequently reported affecting not only the environment, but also the economy and human resources. Different bioremediation techniques based on microbial metabolism, such as natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, biostimulation are promising approaches to minimize the environmental impact of oil spills. The rate and efficiency of this process depend on multiple factors, like pH, oxygen content, temperature, availability and concentration of the pollutants and diversity and structure of the microbial community present in the affected (contaminated) area. Emerging approaches, such as (meta-)taxonomics and (meta-)genomics bring new insights into the molecular mechanisms of PAH microbial degradation at both single species and community levels in oil reservoirs and groundwater/seawater spills. We have scrutinized the microbiological aspects of biodegradation of PAHs naturally occurring in oil upstream activities (exploration and production), and crude oil and/or by-products spills in midstream (transport and storage) and downstream (refining and distribution) activities. This work addresses PAH biodegradation in different stages of oil supply chain affecting diverse environments (groundwater, seawater, oil reservoir) focusing on genes and pathways as well as key players involved in this process. In depth understanding of the biodegradation process will provide/improve knowledge for optimizing and monitoring bioremediation in oil spills cases and/or to impair the degradation in reservoirs avoiding deterioration of crude oil quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J. Hidalgo
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Isabel N. Sierra-Garcia
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
- Biology Department & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruna M. Dellagnezze
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
| | - Valéria Maia de Oliveira
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
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21
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Liu YF, Chen J, Liu ZL, Shou LB, Lin DD, Zhou L, Yang SZ, Liu JF, Li W, Gu JD, Mu BZ. Anaerobic Degradation of Paraffins by Thermophilic Actinobacteria under Methanogenic Conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:10610-10620. [PMID: 32786606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbial anaerobic alkane degradation is a key process in subsurface oil reservoirs and anoxic environments contaminated with petroleum, with a major impact on global carbon cycling. However, the thermophiles capable of water-insoluble paraffins (>C17) degradation under methanogenic conditions has remained understudied. Here, we established thermophilic (55 °C) n-paraffins-degrading (C21-C30) cultures from an oil reservoir. After over 900 days of incubation, the even-numbered n-paraffins were biodegraded to methane. The bacterial communities are dominated by a novel class-level lineage of actinobacteria, 'Candidatus Syntraliphaticia'. These 'Ca. Syntraliphaticia'-like metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) encode a complete alkylsuccinate synthases (ASS) gene operon, as well as hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenase, and several enzymes potentially involved in alkyl-CoA oxidation and the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Metatranscriptomic analysis suggests that n-paraffins are activated via fumarate addition reaction, and oxidized into carbon dioxide, hydrogen/formate and acetate by 'Ca. Syntraliphaticia', that could be further converted to methane by the abundant hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens. We also found a divergent methyl-CoM reductase-like complex (MCR) and a canonical MCR in two MAGs representing 'Ca. Methanosuratus' (within candidate phylum Verstraetearchaeota), indicating the capability of methane and short-chain alkane metabolism in the oil reservoir. Ultimately, this result offers new insights into the degradability and the mechanisms of n-paraffins under methanogenic conditions at high temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Zhong-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Li-Bin Shou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Dan-Dan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Shi-Zhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Wei Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Wastewater Treatment, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- Environmental Engineering, Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, P.R. China
| | - Bo-Zhong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
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22
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Siddique T, Semple K, Li C, Foght JM. Methanogenic biodegradation of iso-alkanes and cycloalkanes during long-term incubation with oil sands tailings. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 258:113768. [PMID: 31864926 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microbes indigenous to oil sands tailings ponds methanogenically biodegrade certain hydrocarbons, including n-alkanes and monoaromatics, whereas other hydrocarbons such as iso- and cycloalkanes are more recalcitrant. We tested the susceptibility of iso- and cycloalkanes to methanogenic biodegradation by incubating them with mature fine tailings (MFT) collected from two depths (6 and 31 m below surface) of a tailings pond, representing different lengths of exposure to hydrocarbons. A mixture of five iso-alkanes and three cycloalkanes was incubated with MFT for 1700 d. Iso-alkanes were completely biodegraded in the order 3-methylhexane > 4-methylheptane > 2-methyloctane > 2-methylheptane, whereas 3-ethylhexane and ethylcyclopentane were only partially depleted and methylcyclohexane and ethylcyclohexane were not degraded during incubation. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed enrichment of Peptococcaceae (Desulfotomaculum) and Smithella in amended cultures with acetoclastic (Methanosaeta) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanoregula and Methanoculleus). Bioaugmentation of MFT by inoculation with MFT-derived enrichment cultures reduced the lag phase before onset of iso-alkane and cycloalkane degradation. However, the same enrichment culture incubated without MFT exhibited slower biodegradation kinetics and less CH4 production, implying that the MFT solid phase (clay minerals) enhanced methanogenesis. These results help explain and predict continued emissions of CH4 from oil sands tailings repositories in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada.
| | - Kathleen Semple
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Carmen Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Julia M Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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Kong JD, Wang H, Siddique T, Foght J, Semple K, Burkus Z, Lewis MA. Second-generation stoichiometric mathematical model to predict methane emissions from oil sands tailings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 694:133645. [PMID: 31400693 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microbial metabolism of fugitive hydrocarbons produces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil sands tailings ponds (OSTP) and end pit lakes (EPL) that retain fluid tailings from surface mining of oil sands ores. Predicting GHG production, particularly methane (CH4), would help oil sands operators mitigate tailings emissions and may assist regulators evaluating the trajectory of reclamation scenarios. Using empirical datasets from laboratory incubation of OSTP sediments with pertinent hydrocarbons, we developed a stoichiometric model for CH4 generation by indigenous microbes. This model improved on previous first-approximation models by considering long-term biodegradation kinetics for 18 relevant hydrocarbons from three different oil sands operations, lag times, nutrient limitations, and microbial growth and death rates. Laboratory measurements were used to estimate model parameter values and to validate the new model. Goodness of fit analysis showed that the stoichiometric model predicted CH4 production well; normalized mean square error analysis revealed that it surpassed previous models. Comparison of model predictions with field measurements of CH4 emissions further validated the new model. Importantly, the model also identified in-situ parameters that are currently lacking but are needed to enable future robust modeling of CH4 production from OSTP and EPL in-situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jude D Kong
- Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science, Rutgers University, 96 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-8018, USA; Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G1, Canada
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G1, Canada.
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada
| | - Julia Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Kathleen Semple
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Zvonko Burkus
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Mark A Lewis
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G1, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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24
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Zhang K, Hu Z, Zeng F, Yang X, Wang J, Jing R, Zhang H, Li Y, Zhang Z. Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and changes in microbial community structure in sediment under nitrate-, ferric-, sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 249:109425. [PMID: 31446121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, the biodegradation behaviors of petroleum hydrocarbons under various reducing conditions were investigated. n-Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were degraded with NO3-, Fe3+, SO42-, or HCO3- as terminal electron acceptors (TEAs), which link to four typical reducing conditions (i.e., nitrate-reducing, ferric-reducing, sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions, respectively) in sediment. The fastest degradation rates were achieved under sulfate-reducing conditions with half-lives of 49.51 days for n-alkanes and 58.74 days for PAHs. For short-chain n-alkanes and low-molecular weight (LMW) PAHs, relatively higher removal efficiencies were achieved under nitrate- and ferric-reducing conditions. The degradation of long-chain n-alkanes and high-molecular weight (HMW) PAHs coupled to methanogenesis was the most favored as compared with other reducing conditions. Carboxylation was found to be the principle mechanism for regulating n-alkane degradation coupled to denitrification, while the activation of n-alkanes by the addition of fumarate was the principle mechanism for the n-alkane degradation under sulfate-reducing conditions. The anaerobic metabolism of n-alkanes may not proceed via fumarate addition or carboxylation under ferric-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Illumina HiSeq sequencing revealed dissimilar structures of the microbial communities under various reducing conditions. It is hypothesized that the utilization of different TEAs for n-alkane and PAH degradation resulted in distinct microbial community structures, which were highly correlated with the varied degradation behaviors of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediment. The current results may provide reference value on better understanding the biodegradation behaviors of n-alkanes and PAHs in association with the induced microbial communities in sedimentary environments under the four typical reducing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zheng Hu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Feifan Zeng
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xingjian Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Ran Jing
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland at College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Huanni Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yongtao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjin, 300191, China.
| | - Zhen Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environmental Research & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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25
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Laso-Pérez R, Hahn C, van Vliet DM, Tegetmeyer HE, Schubotz F, Smit NT, Pape T, Sahling H, Bohrmann G, Boetius A, Knittel K, Wegener G. Anaerobic Degradation of Non-Methane Alkanes by " Candidatus Methanoliparia" in Hydrocarbon Seeps of the Gulf of Mexico. mBio 2019; 10:e01814-19. [PMID: 31431553 PMCID: PMC6703427 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01814-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Crude oil and gases in the seabed provide an important energy source for subsurface microorganisms. We investigated the role of archaea in the anaerobic degradation of non-methane alkanes in deep-sea oil seeps from the Gulf of Mexico. We identified microscopically the ethane and short-chain alkane oxidizers "Candidatus Argoarchaeum" and "Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum" forming consortia with bacteria. Moreover, we found that the sediments contain large numbers of cells from the archaeal clade "Candidatus Methanoliparia," which was previously proposed to perform methanogenic alkane degradation. "Ca. Methanoliparia" occurred abundantly as single cells attached to oil droplets in sediments without apparent bacterial or archaeal partners. Metagenome-assembled genomes of "Ca. Methanoliparia" encode a complete methanogenesis pathway including a canonical methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) but also a highly divergent MCR related to those of alkane-degrading archaea and pathways for the oxidation of long-chain alkyl units. Its metabolic genomic potential and its global detection in hydrocarbon reservoirs suggest that "Ca. Methanoliparia" is an important methanogenic alkane degrader in subsurface environments, producing methane by alkane disproportionation as a single organism.IMPORTANCE Oil-rich sediments from the Gulf of Mexico were found to contain diverse alkane-degrading groups of archaea. The symbiotic, consortium-forming "Candidatus Argoarchaeum" and "Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum" are likely responsible for the degradation of ethane and short-chain alkanes, with the help of sulfate-reducing bacteria. "Ca. Methanoliparia" occurs as single cells associated with oil droplets. These archaea encode two phylogenetically different methyl-coenzyme M reductases that may allow this organism to thrive as a methanogen on a substrate of long-chain alkanes. Based on a library survey, we show that "Ca. Methanoliparia" is frequently detected in oil reservoirs and may be a key agent in the transformation of long-chain alkanes to methane. Our findings provide evidence for the important and diverse roles of archaea in alkane-rich marine habitats and support the notion of a significant functional versatility of the methyl coenzyme M reductase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Laso-Pérez
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Cedric Hahn
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Daan M van Vliet
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Halina E Tegetmeyer
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Florence Schubotz
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Nadine T Smit
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Thomas Pape
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Heiko Sahling
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Gerhard Bohrmann
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Antje Boetius
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katrin Knittel
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Gunter Wegener
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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26
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Baedecker MJ, Eganhouse RP, Qi H, Cozzarelli IM, Trost JJ, Bekins BA. Weathering of Oil in a Surficial Aquifer. GROUND WATER 2018; 56:797-809. [PMID: 29193024 DOI: 10.1111/gwat.12619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The composition of crude oil in a surficial aquifer was determined in two locations at the Bemidji, MN, spill site. The abundances of 71 individual hydrocarbons varied within 16 locations sampled. Little depletion of these hydrocarbons (relative to the pipeline oil) occurred in the first 10 years after the spill, whereas losses of 25% to 85% of the total measured hydrocarbons occurred after 30 years. The C6-30 n-alkanes, toluene, and o-xylene were the most depleted hydrocarbons. Some hydrocarbons, such as the n-C10-24 cyclohexanes, tri- and tetra- methylbenzenes, acyclic isoprenoids, and naphthalenes were the least depleted. Benzene was detected at every sampling location 30 years after the spill. Degradation of the oil led to increases in the percent organic carbon and in the δ 13 C of the oil. Another method of determining hydrocarbon loss was by normalizing the total measured hydrocarbon concentrations to that of the most conservative analytes. This method indicated that the total measured hydrocarbons were depleted by 47% to 77% and loss of the oil mass over 30 years was 18% to 31%. Differences in hydrocarbon depletion were related to the depth of the oil in the aquifer, local topography, amount of recharge reaching the oil, availability of electron acceptors, and the presence of less permeable soils above the oil. The results from this study indicate that once crude oil has been in the subsurface for a number of years there is no longer a "starting oil concentration" that can be used to understand processes that affect its fate and the transport of hydrocarbons in groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert P Eganhouse
- U.S. Geological Survey, MS431, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192
| | - Haiping Qi
- U.S. Geological Survey, MS431, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192
| | | | - Jared J Trost
- U.S. Geological Survey, 2280 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, MN 55112
| | - Barbara A Bekins
- U.S. Geological Survey, MS496, McKelvey Building, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
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27
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Toth CRA, Gieg LM. Time Course-Dependent Methanogenic Crude Oil Biodegradation: Dynamics of Fumarate Addition Metabolites, Biodegradative Genes, and Microbial Community Composition. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2610. [PMID: 29354103 PMCID: PMC5758579 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodegradation of crude oil in subsurface petroleum reservoirs has adversely impacted most of the world's oil, converting this resource to heavier forms that are of lower quality and more challenging to recover. Oil degradation in deep reservoir environments has been attributed to methanogenesis over geological time, yet our understanding of the processes and organisms mediating oil transformation in the absence of electron acceptors remains incomplete. Here, we sought to identify hydrocarbon activation mechanisms and reservoir-associated microorganisms that may have helped shape the formation of biodegraded oil by incubating oilfield produced water in the presence of light (°API = 32) or heavy crude oil (°API = 16). Over the course of 17 months, we conducted routine analytical (GC, GC-MS) and molecular (PCR/qPCR of assA and bssA genes, 16S rRNA gene sequencing) surveys to assess microbial community composition and activity changes over time. Over the incubation period, we detected the formation of transient hydrocarbon metabolites indicative of alkane and alkylbenzene addition to fumarate, corresponding with increases in methane production and fumarate addition gene abundance. Chemical and gene-based evidence of hydrocarbon biodegradation under methanogenic conditions was supported by the enrichment of hydrocarbon fermenters known to catalyze fumarate addition reactions (e.g., Desulfotomaculum, Smithella), along with syntrophic bacteria (Syntrophus), methanogenic archaea, and several candidate phyla (e.g., “Atribacteria”, “Cloacimonetes”). Our results reveal that fumarate addition is a possible mechanism for catalyzing the methanogenic biodegradation of susceptible saturates and aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil, and we propose the roles of community members and candidate phyla in our cultures that may be involved in hydrocarbon transformation to methane in crude oil systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R A Toth
- Petroleum Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa M Gieg
- Petroleum Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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28
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Gee KF, Poon HY, Hashisho Z, Ulrich AC. Effect of naphtha diluent on greenhouse gases and reduced sulfur compounds emissions from oil sands tailings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 598:916-924. [PMID: 28458209 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The long-term storage of oil sands tailings has resulted in the evolution of greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2) as a result of residual organics biodegradation. Recent studies have identified black, sulfidic zones below the tailings-water interface, which may be producing toxic sulfur-containing gases. An anaerobic mesocosm study was conducted over an 11-week period to characterize the evolution of CH4, CO2 and reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) (including H2S) in tailings as it relates to naphtha-containing diluent concentrations (0.2, 0.8, and 1.5% w/v) and microbial activity. Our results showed that RSCs were produced first at 0.12μmol°RSCs/mL MFT (1.5% w/v diluent treatment). RSCs contribution (from highest to lowest) was H2S and 2-methylthiophene>2.5-dimethylthiophene>3-methylthiophene>thiofuran>butyl mercaptan>carbonyl sulfide, where H2S and 2-methylthiophene contributed 81% of the gas produced. CH4 and CO2 production occurred after week 5 at 40.7μmolCH4/mL MFT and 5.9μmolCO2/mL MFT (1.5% w/v diluent treatment). The amount of H2S and CH4 generated is correlated to the amount of diluent present and to microbial activity as shown by corresponding increases in sulfate-reducers' Dissimilatory sulfite reductase (DsrAB) gene and methanogens' methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen F Gee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Ho Yin Poon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Zaher Hashisho
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Ania C Ulrich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada.
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29
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Foght JM, Gieg LM, Siddique T. The microbiology of oil sands tailings: past, present, future. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 93:3064888. [PMID: 28334283 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Surface mining of enormous oil sands deposits in northeastern Alberta, Canada since 1967 has contributed greatly to Canada's economy but has also received negative international attention due largely to environmental concerns and challenges. Not only have microbes profoundly affected the composition and behavior of this petroleum resource over geological time, they currently influence the management of semi-solid tailings in oil sands tailings ponds (OSTPs) and tailings reclamation. Historically, microbial impacts on OSTPs were generally discounted, but next-generation sequencing and biogeochemical studies have revealed unexpectedly diverse indigenous communities and expanded our fundamental understanding of anaerobic microbial functions. OSTPs that experienced different processing and management histories have developed distinct microbial communities that influence the behavior and reclamation of the tailings stored therein. In particular, the interactions of Deltaproteobacteria and Firmicutes with methanogenic archaea impact greenhouse gas emissions, sulfur cycling, pore water toxicity, sediment biogeochemistry and densification, water usage and the trajectory of long-term mine waste reclamation. This review summarizes historical data; synthesizes current understanding of microbial diversity and activities in situ and in vitro; predicts microbial effects on tailings remediation and reclamation; and highlights knowledge gaps for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Lisa M Gieg
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 1N4
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G7
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30
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Mishra S, Wefers P, Schmidt M, Knittel K, Krüger M, Stagars MH, Treude T. Hydrocarbon Degradation in Caspian Sea Sediment Cores Subjected to Simulated Petroleum Seepage in a Newly Designed Sediment-Oil-Flow-Through System. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:763. [PMID: 28503172 PMCID: PMC5409261 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbial community response to petroleum seepage was investigated in a whole round sediment core (16 cm length) collected nearby natural hydrocarbon seepage structures in the Caspian Sea, using a newly developed Sediment-Oil-Flow-Through (SOFT) system. Distinct redox zones established and migrated vertically in the core during the 190 days-long simulated petroleum seepage. Methanogenic petroleum degradation was indicated by an increase in methane concentration from 8 μM in an untreated core compared to 2300 μM in the lower sulfate-free zone of the SOFT core at the end of the experiment, accompanied by a respective decrease in the δ13C signal of methane from -33.7 to -49.5‰. The involvement of methanogens in petroleum degradation was further confirmed by methane production in enrichment cultures from SOFT sediment after the addition of hexadecane, methylnapthalene, toluene, and ethylbenzene. Petroleum degradation coupled to sulfate reduction was indicated by the increase of integrated sulfate reduction rates from 2.8 SO42-m-2 day-1 in untreated cores to 5.7 mmol SO42-m-2 day-1 in the SOFT core at the end of the experiment, accompanied by a respective accumulation of sulfide from 30 to 447 μM. Volatile hydrocarbons (C2–C6 n-alkanes) passed through the methanogenic zone mostly unchanged and were depleted within the sulfate-reducing zone. The amount of heavier n-alkanes (C10–C38) decreased step-wise toward the top of the sediment core and a preferential degradation of shorter (<C14) and longer chain n-alkanes (>C30) was seen during the seepage. This study illustrates, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time the development of methanogenic petroleum degradation and the succession of benthic microbial processes during petroleum passage in a whole round sediment core.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonakshi Mishra
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research KielKiel, Germany
| | - Peggy Wefers
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research KielKiel, Germany
| | - Mark Schmidt
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research KielKiel, Germany
| | - Katrin Knittel
- Max Planck Institute for Marine MicrobiologyBremen, Germany
| | - Martin Krüger
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural ResourcesHannover, Germany
| | | | - Tina Treude
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research KielKiel, Germany.,Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los AngelesCA, USA.,Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los AngelesCA, USA
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31
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Stagars MH, Mishra S, Treude T, Amann R, Knittel K. Microbial Community Response to Simulated Petroleum Seepage in Caspian Sea Sediments. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:764. [PMID: 28503173 PMCID: PMC5409227 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaerobic microbial hydrocarbon degradation is a major biogeochemical process at marine seeps. Here we studied the response of the microbial community to petroleum seepage simulated for 190 days in a sediment core from the Caspian Sea using a sediment-oil-flow-through (SOFT) system. Untreated (without simulated petroleum seepage) and SOFT sediment microbial communities shared 43% bacterial genus-level 16S rRNA-based operational taxonomic units (OTU0.945) but shared only 23% archaeal OTU0.945. The community differed significantly between sediment layers. The detection of fourfold higher deltaproteobacterial cell numbers in SOFT than in untreated sediment at depths characterized by highest sulfate reduction rates and strongest decrease of gaseous and mid-chain alkane concentrations indicated a specific response of hydrocarbon-degrading Deltaproteobacteria. Based on an increase in specific CARD-FISH cell numbers, we suggest the following groups of sulfate-reducing bacteria to be likely responsible for the observed decrease in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon concentration in SOFT sediments: clade SCA1 for propane and butane degradation, clade LCA2 for mid- to long-chain alkane degradation, clade Cyhx for cycloalkanes, pentane and hexane degradation, and relatives of Desulfobacula for toluene degradation. Highest numbers of archaea of the genus Methanosarcina were found in the methanogenic zone of the SOFT core where we detected preferential degradation of long-chain hydrocarbons. Sequencing of masD, a marker gene for alkane degradation encoding (1-methylalkyl)succinate synthase, revealed a low diversity in SOFT sediment with two abundant species-level MasD OTU0.96.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion H Stagars
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Marine MicrobiologyBremen, Germany
| | - Sonakshi Mishra
- Department of Marine Biogeochemistry, GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielKiel, Germany
| | - Tina Treude
- Department of Marine Biogeochemistry, GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielKiel, Germany.,Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los AngelesCA, USA.,Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los AngelesCA, USA
| | - Rudolf Amann
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Marine MicrobiologyBremen, Germany
| | - Katrin Knittel
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Marine MicrobiologyBremen, Germany
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Mohamad Shahimin MF, Siddique T. Methanogenic biodegradation of paraffinic solvent hydrocarbons in two different oil sands tailings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 583:115-122. [PMID: 28094047 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities drive many biogeochemical processes in oil sands tailings and cause greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds. Paraffinic solvent (primarily C5-C6; n- and iso-alkanes) is used by some oil sands companies to aid bitumen extraction from oil sands ores. Residues of unrecovered solvent escape to tailings ponds during tailings deposition and sustain microbial metabolism. To investigate biodegradation of hydrocarbons in paraffinic solvent, mature fine tailings (MFT) collected from Albian and CNRL ponds were amended with paraffinic solvent at ~0.1wt% (final concentration: ~1000mgL-1) and incubated under methanogenic conditions for ~1600d. Albian and CNRL MFTs exhibited ~400 and ~800d lag phases, respectively after which n-alkanes (n-pentane and n-hexane) in the solvent were preferentially metabolized to methane over iso-alkanes in both MFTs. Among iso-alkanes, only 2-methylpentane was completely biodegraded whereas 2-methylbutane and 3-methylpentane were partially biodegraded probably through cometabolism. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing showed dominance of Anaerolineaceae and Methanosaetaceae in Albian MFT and Peptococcaceae and co-domination of "Candidatus Methanoregula" and Methanosaetaceae in CNRL MFT bacterial and archaeal communities, respectively, during active biodegradation of paraffinic solvent. The results are important for developing future strategies for tailings reclamation and management of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Mohamad Shahimin MF, Siddique T. Sequential biodegradation of complex naphtha hydrocarbons under methanogenic conditions in two different oil sands tailings. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 221:398-406. [PMID: 27939633 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Methane emissions in oil sands tailings ponds are sustained by anaerobic biodegradation of unrecovered hydrocarbons. Naphtha (primarily C6-C10; n- iso- and cycloalkanes) is commonly used as a solvent during bitumen extraction process and its residue escapes to tailings ponds during tailings deposition. To investigate biodegradability of hydrocarbons in naphtha, mature fine tailings (MFT) collected from Albian and CNRL tailings ponds were amended with CNRL naphtha at ∼0.2 wt% (∼2000 mg L-1) and incubated under methanogenic conditions for ∼1600 d. Microbial communities in both MFTs started metabolizing naphtha after a lag phase of ∼100 d. Complete biodegradation/biotransformation of all n-alkanes (except partial biodegradation of n-octane in CNRL MFT) followed by major iso-alkanes (2-methylpentane, 3-methylhexane, 2- and 4-methylheptane, iso-nonanes and 2-methylnonane) and a few cycloalkanes (derivatives of cyclopentane and cyclohexane) was observed during the incubation. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing showed dominance of Peptococcaceae and Anaerolineaceae in Albian MFT and Anaerolineaceae and Syntrophaceae in CNRL MFT bacterial communities with co-domination of Methanosaetaceae and "Candidatus Methanoregula" in archaeal populations during active biodegradation of hydrocarbons. The findings extend the known range of hydrocarbons susceptible to methanogenic biodegradation in petroleum-impacted anaerobic environments and help refine existing kinetic model to predict greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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35
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Xu X, Pliego G, Zazo JA, Casas JA, Rodriguez JJ. Mineralization of naphtenic acids with thermally-activated persulfate: The important role of oxygen. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 318:355-362. [PMID: 27442986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Revised: 07/03/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study reports on the mineralization of model naphtenic acids (NAs) in aqueous solution by catalyst-free thermally-activated persulfate (PS) oxidation. These species are found to be pollutants in oil sands process-affected waters. The NAs tested include saturated-ring (cyclohexanecarboxylic and cyclohexanebutyric acids) and aromatic (2-naphthoic and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthoic acids) structures, at 50mgL(-1)starting concentration. The effect of PS dose within a wide range (10-100% of the theoretical stoichiometric) and working temperature (40-97°C) was investigated. At 80°C and intitial pH=8 complete mineralization of the four NAs was achieved with 40-60% of the stoichiometric PS dose. This is explained because of the important contribution of oxygen, which was experimentally verified and was found to be more effective toward the NAs with a single cyclohexane ring than for the bicyclic aromatic-ring-bearing ones. The effect of chloride and bicarbonate was also checked. The former showed negative effect on the degradation rate of NAs whereas it was negligible or even positive for bicarbonate. The rate of mineralization was well described by simple pseudo-first order kinetics with values of the rate constants normalized to the PS dose within the range of 0.062-0.099h(-1). Apparent activation energy values between 93.7-105.3kJmol(-1) were obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyan Xu
- Chemical Engineering Section, University Autonoma of Madrid, Crta. Colmenar km 15, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Pliego
- Chemical Engineering Section, University Autonoma of Madrid, Crta. Colmenar km 15, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A Zazo
- Chemical Engineering Section, University Autonoma of Madrid, Crta. Colmenar km 15, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A Casas
- Chemical Engineering Section, University Autonoma of Madrid, Crta. Colmenar km 15, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Rodriguez
- Chemical Engineering Section, University Autonoma of Madrid, Crta. Colmenar km 15, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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Wilson S, Li C, Ramos-Padrón E, Nesbø C, Soh J, Sensen C, Voordouw G, Foght J, Gieg L. Oil sands tailings ponds harbour a small core prokaryotic microbiome and diverse accessory communities. J Biotechnol 2016; 235:187-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Revised: 06/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Collins CEV, Foght JM, Siddique T. Co-occurrence of methanogenesis and N2 fixation in oil sands tailings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 565:306-312. [PMID: 27177137 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Oil sands tailings ponds in northern Alberta, Canada have been producing biogenic gases via microbial metabolism of hydrocarbons for decades. Persistent methanogenic activity in tailings ponds without any known replenishment of nutrients such as fixed nitrogen (N) persuaded us to investigate whether N2 fixation or polyacrylamide (PAM; used as a tailings flocculant) could serve as N sources. Cultures comprising mature fine tailings (MFT) plus methanogenic medium supplemented with or deficient in fixed N were incubated under an N2 headspace. Some cultures were further amended with citrate, which is used in oil sands processing, as a relevant carbon source, and/or with PAM. After an initial delay, N-deficient cultures with or without PAM produced methane (CH4) at the same rate as N-containing cultures, indicating a mechanism of overcoming apparent N-deficiency. Acetylene reduction and (15)N2 incorporation in all N-deficient cultures (with or without PAM) suggested active N2 fixation concurrently with methanogenesis but inability to use PAM as a N source. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed little difference between archaeal populations regardless of N content. However, bacterial sequences in N-deficient cultures showed enrichment of Hyphomicrobiaceae and Clostridium members that might contain N2-fixing species. The results are important in understanding long-term production of biogenic greenhouse gases in oil sands tailings.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Victoria Collins
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada
| | - Julia M Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada.
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Dompierre KA, Lindsay MBJ, Cruz-Hernández P, Halferdahl GM. Initial geochemical characteristics of fluid fine tailings in an oil sands end pit lake. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 556:196-206. [PMID: 26974568 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Geochemical characteristics of fluid fine tailings (FFT) were examined in Base Mine Lake (BML), which is the first full-scale demonstration oil sands end pit lake (EPL) in northern Alberta, Canada. Approximately 186Mm(3) of FFT was deposited between 1994 and 2012, before BML was established on December 31, 2012. Bulk FFT samples (n=588) were collected in July and August 2013 at various depths at 15 sampling sites. Temperature, solid content, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, Eh and alkalinity were measured for all samples. Detailed geochemical analyses were performed on a subset of samples (n=284). Pore-water pH decreased with depth by approximately 0.5 within the upper 10m of the FFT. Major pore-water constituents included Na (880±96mgL(-1)) and Cl (560±95mgL(-1)); Ca (19±4.1mgL(-1)), Mg (11±2.0mgL(-1)), K (16±2.3mgL(-1)) and NH3 (9.9±4.7mgL(-1)) were consistently observed. Iron and Mn concentrations were low within FFT pore water, whereas SO4 concentrations decreased sharply across the FFT-water interface. Geochemical modeling indicated that FeS(s) precipitation was favoured under SO4-reducing conditions. Pore water was also under-saturated with respect to gypsum [CaSO4·2H2O], and near saturation with respect to calcite [CaCO3], dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] and siderite [FeCO3]. X-ray diffraction (XRD) suggested that carbonate-mineral dissolution largely depleted calcite and dolomite. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy revealed the presence of FeS(s), pyrite [FeS2], and siderite. Carbonate-mineral dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation have likely contributed to FFT dewatering and settlement. However, the long-term importance of these processes within EPLs remains unknown. These results provide a reference for assessing the long-term geochemical evolution of oil sands EPLs, and offer insight into the chemistry of pore water released from FFT to the overlying water cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Dompierre
- Department of Civil and Geological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5A9
| | - Matthew B J Lindsay
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada.
| | - Pablo Cruz-Hernández
- Department of Geology, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen', E-21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Geoffrey M Halferdahl
- Environmental Research and Development, Syncrude Canada Limited, Edmonton, Alberta T6N 1H4, Canada
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39
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Dean C, Xiao Y, Roberts DJ. Enriching acid rock drainage related microbial communities from surface-deposited oil sands tailings. Can J Microbiol 2016; 62:870-879. [PMID: 27556282 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2016-0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the microbial communities native to surface-deposited pyritic oil sands tailings, an environment where acid rock drainage (ARD) could occur. The goal of this study was to enrich sulfur-oxidizing organisms from these tailings and determine whether different populations exist at pH levels 7, 4.5, and 2.5. Using growth-based methods provides model organisms for use in the future to predict potential activities and limitations of these organisms and to develop possible control methods. Thiosulfate-fed enrichment cultures were monitored for approximately 1 year. The results showed that the enrichments at pH 4.5 and 7 were established quicker than at pH 2.5. Different microbial community structures were found among the 3 pH environments. The sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms identified were most closely related to Halothiobacillus neapolitanus, Achromobacter spp., and Curtobacterium spp. While microorganisms related to Chitinophagaceae and Acidocella spp. were identified as the only possible iron-oxidizing and -reducing microbes. These results contribute to the general knowledge of the relatively understudied microbial communities that exist in pyritic oil sands tailings and indicate these communities may have a potential role in ARD generation, which may have implications for future tailings management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Dean
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.,School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Yeyuan Xiao
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.,School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Deborah J Roberts
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.,School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
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40
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Mohamad Shahimin MF, Foght JM, Siddique T. Preferential methanogenic biodegradation of short-chain n-alkanes by microbial communities from two different oil sands tailings ponds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 553:250-257. [PMID: 26925736 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Oil sands tailings ponds harbor diverse anaerobic microbial communities capable of methanogenic biodegradation of solvent hydrocarbons entrained in the tailings. Mature fine tailings (MFT) from two operators (Albian and CNRL) that use different extraction solvents were incubated with mixtures of either two (n-pentane and n-hexane) or four (n-pentane, n-hexane, n-octane and n-decane) n-alkanes under methanogenic conditions for ~600 d. Microbes in Albian MFT began methane production by ~80 d, achieving complete depletion of n-pentane and n-hexane in the two-alkane mixture and their preferential biodegradation in the four-alkane mixture. Microbes in CNRL MFT preferentially metabolized n-octane and n-decane in the four-alkane mixture after a ~80 d lag but exhibited a lag of ~360 d before commencing biodegradation of n-pentane and n-hexane in the two-alkane mixture. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed Peptococcaceae members as key bacterial n-alkane degraders in all treatments except CNRL MFT amended with the four-alkane mixture, in which Anaerolineaceae, Desulfobacteraceae (Desulfobacterium) and Syntrophaceae (Smithella) dominated during n-octane and n-decane biodegradation. Anaerolineaceae sequences increased only in cultures amended with the four-alkane mixture and only during n-octane and n-decane biodegradation. The dominant methanogens were acetoclastic Methanosaetaceae. These results highlight preferential n-alkane biodegradation by microbes in oil sands tailings from different producers, with implications for tailings management and reclamation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia M Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada.
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41
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Aguilar M, Richardson E, Tan B, Walker G, Dunfield PF, Bass D, Nesbø C, Foght J, Dacks JB. Next-Generation Sequencing Assessment of Eukaryotic Diversity in Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Sediments and Surface Water. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2016; 63:732-743. [PMID: 27062087 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Tailings ponds in the Athabasca oil sands (Canada) contain fluid wastes, generated by the extraction of bitumen from oil sands ores. Although the autochthonous prokaryotic communities have been relatively well characterized, almost nothing is known about microbial eukaryotes living in the anoxic soft sediments of tailings ponds or in the thin oxic layer of water that covers them. We carried out the first next-generation sequencing study of microbial eukaryotic diversity in oil sands tailings ponds. In metagenomes prepared from tailings sediment and surface water, we detected very low numbers of sequences encoding eukaryotic small subunit ribosomal RNA representing seven major taxonomic groups of protists. We also produced and analysed three amplicon-based 18S rRNA libraries prepared from sediment samples. These revealed a more diverse set of taxa, 169 different OTUs encompassing up to eleven higher order groups of eukaryotes, according to detailed classification using homology searching and phylogenetic methods. The 10 most abundant OTUs accounted for > 90% of the total of reads, vs. large numbers of rare OTUs (< 1% abundance). Despite the anoxic and hydrocarbon-enriched nature of the environment, the tailings ponds harbour complex communities of microbial eukaryotes indicating that these organisms should be taken into account when studying the microbiology of the oil sands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Aguilar
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, 510 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Richardson
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, 510 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - BoonFei Tan
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405, University of Alberta, Biological Sciences Bldg., Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Giselle Walker
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, 510 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Peter F Dunfield
- Department of Biological Sciences, 507 Campus Drive NW, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - David Bass
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom.,Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Barrack Road, The Nothe, Weymouth, DT4 8UB, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla Nesbø
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405, University of Alberta, Biological Sciences Bldg., Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada.,CEES, Deptartment of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066, Blindern NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Julia Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405, University of Alberta, Biological Sciences Bldg., Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, 510 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada. .,Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom.
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42
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Jiménez N, Richnow HH, Vogt C, Treude T, Krüger M. Methanogenic Hydrocarbon Degradation: Evidence from Field and Laboratory Studies. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 26:227-42. [PMID: 26959375 DOI: 10.1159/000441679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial transformation of hydrocarbons to methane is an environmentally relevant process taking place in a wide variety of electron acceptor-depleted habitats, from oil reservoirs and coal deposits to contaminated groundwater and deep sediments. Methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation is considered to be a major process in reservoir degradation and one of the main processes responsible for the formation of heavy oil deposits and oil sands. In the absence of external electron acceptors such as oxygen, nitrate, sulfate or Fe(III), fermentation and methanogenesis become the dominant microbial metabolisms. The major end product under these conditions is methane, and the only electron acceptor necessary to sustain the intermediate steps in this process is CO2, which is itself a net product of the overall reaction. We are summarizing the state of the art and recent advances in methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation research. Both the key microbial groups involved as well as metabolic pathways are described, and we discuss the novel insights into methanogenic hydrocarbon-degrading populations studied in laboratory as well as environmental systems enabled by novel cultivation-based and molecular approaches. Their possible implications on energy resources, bioremediation of contaminated sites, deep-biosphere research, and consequences for atmospheric composition and ultimately climate change are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Jiménez
- Department of Resource Geochemistry, BGR - Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany
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43
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Clothier LN, Gieg LM. Anaerobic biodegradation of surrogate naphthenic acids. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 90:156-166. [PMID: 26724449 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 12/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Surface bitumen extraction from the Alberta's oil sands region generates large settling basins known as tailings ponds. The oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) stored in these ponds contain solid and residual bitumen-associated compounds including naphthenic acids (NAs) that can potentially be biodedgraded by indigenous tailings microorganisms. While the biodegradation of some NAs is known to occur under aerobic conditions, little is understood about anaerobic NA biodegradation even though tailings ponds are mainly anoxic. Here, we investigated the potential for anaerobic NA biodegradation by indigenous tailings microorganisms. Enrichment cultures were established from anoxic tailings that were amended with 5 single-ringed surrogate NAs or acid-extractable organics (AEO) from OSPW and incubated under nitrate-, sulfate-, iron-reducing, and methanogenic conditions. Surrogate NA depletion was observed under all anaerobic conditions tested to varying extents, correlating to losses in the respective electron acceptor (sulfate or nitrate) or the production of predicted products (Fe(II) or methane). Tailings-containing cultures incubated under the different electron-accepting conditions resulted in the enrichment and putative identification of microbial community members that may function in metabolizing surrogate NAs under the various anoxic conditions. In addition, more complex NAs (in the form of AEO) was observed to drive sulfate and iron reduction relative to controls. Overall, this study has shown that simple surrogate NAs can be biodegraded under a variety of anoxic conditions, a key first step in understanding the potential anaerobic metabolism of NAs in oil sands tailings ponds and other industrial wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay N Clothier
- Petroleum Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lisa M Gieg
- Petroleum Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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44
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Davidova IA, Wawrik B, Callaghan AV, Duncan K, Marks CR, Suflita JM. Dethiosulfatarculus sandiegensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a methanogenic paraffin-degrading enrichment culture and emended description of the family Desulfarculaceae. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 66:1242-1248. [PMID: 26704417 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A mesophilic deltaproteobacterium, designated strain SPRT, was isolated from a methanogenic consortium capable of degrading long-chain paraffins. Cells were motile, vibrio-shaped, and occurred singly, in pairs or in clusters. Strain SPRT did not metabolize hydrocarbons but grew fermentatively on pyruvate and oxaloacetate and autotrophically with H2 and CO2. Thiosulfate served as a terminal electron acceptor, but sulfate or sulfite did not. The organism required at least 10 g NaCl l- 1 and a small amount of yeast extract (0.001%) for growth. Optimal growth was observed between 30 and 37 °C and a pH range from 6.0 to 7.2. The DNA G+C content of SPRT's genome was 52.02 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SPRT was distinct from previously described Deltaproteobacteria, exhibiting the closest affiliation to Desulfarculus baarsii DSM 2075T and Desulfocarbo indianensis SCBMT, with only 91% similarity between their respective 16S gene sequences. In silico genome comparison supported the distinctiveness between strain SPRT and both Desulfocarbo indianensis SCBMT and Desulfarculus baarsii DSM 2075T. Based on physiological differences, as well as phylogenetic and genomic comparisons, we propose to classify SPRT as the type strain ( = DSM 100305T = JCM 30857T) of a novel species of a new genus with the name Dethiosulfatarculus sandiegensis gen. nov., sp. nov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene A Davidova
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, George Lynn Cross Hall, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.,Institute for Energy and the Environment, The University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Room 1510, Norman, OK 73019-1015, USA
| | - Boris Wawrik
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, George Lynn Cross Hall, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Amy V Callaghan
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, George Lynn Cross Hall, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Kathleen Duncan
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, George Lynn Cross Hall, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.,Institute for Energy and the Environment, The University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Room 1510, Norman, OK 73019-1015, USA
| | - Christopher R Marks
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, George Lynn Cross Hall, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.,Institute for Energy and the Environment, The University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Room 1510, Norman, OK 73019-1015, USA
| | - Joseph M Suflita
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, George Lynn Cross Hall, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.,Institute for Energy and the Environment, The University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Room 1510, Norman, OK 73019-1015, USA
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45
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Siddique T, Mohamad Shahimin MF, Zamir S, Semple K, Li C, Foght JM. Long-Term Incubation Reveals Methanogenic Biodegradation of C5 and C6 iso-Alkanes in Oil Sands Tailings. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:14732-14739. [PMID: 26571341 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
iso-Alkanes are major components of petroleum and have been considered recalcitrant to biodegradation under methanogenic conditions. However, indigenous microbes in oil sands tailings ponds exposed to solvents rich in 2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-pentane, and n-hexane produce methane in situ. We incubated defined mixtures of iso- or n-alkanes with mature fine tailings from two tailings ponds of different ages historically exposed to different solvents: one, ~10 years old, receiving C5-C6 paraffins and the other, ~35 years old, receiving naphtha. A lengthy incubation (>6 years) revealed iso-alkane biodegradation after lag phases of 900-1800 and ~280 days, respectively, before the onset of methanogenesis, although lag phases were shorter with n-alkanes (~650-1675 and ~170 days, respectively). 2-Methylpentane and both n-alkanes were completely depleted during ~2400 days of incubation, whereas 2-methylbutane and 3-methylpentane were partially depleted only during active degradation of 2-methylpentane, suggesting co-metabolism. In both cases, pyrotag sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed codominance of Peptococcaceae with acetoclastic (Methanosaeta) and hydrogenotrophic (Methanoregula and Methanolinea) methanogens. These observations are important for predicting long-term greenhouse-gas emissions from oil sands tailings ponds and extend the known range of hydrocarbons susceptible to methanogenic biodegradation in petroleum-impacted anaerobic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada
| | | | - Saima Zamir
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada
| | - Kathleen Semple
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Carmen Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Julia M Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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Foght JM. Microbial metagenomics of oil sands tailings ponds: small bugs, big data. Genome 2015; 58:507-10. [DOI: 10.1139/gen-2015-0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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47
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Pourmohammadbagher A, Shaw JM. Probing Contaminant Transport to and from Clay Surfaces in Organic Solvents and Water Using Solution Calorimetry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:10841-10849. [PMID: 26296102 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Clays, in tailings, are a significant ongoing environmental concern in the mining and oilsands production industries, and clay rehabilitation following contamination poses challenges episodically. Understanding the fundamentals of clay behavior can lead to better environmental impact mitigation strategies. Systematic calorimetric measurements are shown to provide a framework for parsing the synergistic and antagonistic impacts of trace (i.e., parts per million level) components on the surface compositions of clays. The enthalpy of solution of as-received and "contaminated" clays, in as-received and "contaminated" organic solvents and water, at 60 °C and atmospheric pressure, provides important illustrative examples. Clay contamination included pre-saturation of clays with water and organic liquids. Solvent contamination included the addition of trace water to organic solvents and trace organic liquids to water. Enthalpy of solution outcomes are interpreted using a quantitative mass and energy balance modeling framework that isolates terms for solvent and trace contaminant sorption/desorption and surface energy effects. Underlying surface energies are shown to dominate the energetics of the solvent-clay interaction, and organic liquids as solvents or as trace contaminants are shown to displace water from as-received clay surfaces. This approach can be readily extended to include pH, salts, or other effects and is expected to provide mechanistic and quantitative insights underlying the stability of clays in tailings ponds and the behaviors of clays in diverse industrial and natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Pourmohammadbagher
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
| | - John M Shaw
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
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Tan B, Jane Fowler S, Laban NA, Dong X, Sensen CW, Foght J, Gieg LM. Comparative analysis of metagenomes from three methanogenic hydrocarbon-degrading enrichment cultures with 41 environmental samples. THE ISME JOURNAL 2015; 9:2028-45. [PMID: 25734684 PMCID: PMC4542035 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Methanogenic hydrocarbon metabolism is a key process in subsurface oil reservoirs and hydrocarbon-contaminated environments and thus warrants greater understanding to improve current technologies for fossil fuel extraction and bioremediation. In this study, three hydrocarbon-degrading methanogenic cultures established from two geographically distinct environments and incubated with different hydrocarbon substrates (added as single hydrocarbons or as mixtures) were subjected to metagenomic and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to test whether these differences affect the genetic potential and composition of the communities. Enrichment of different putative hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in each culture appeared to be substrate dependent, though all cultures contained both acetate- and H2-utilizing methanogens. Despite differing hydrocarbon substrates and inoculum sources, all three cultures harbored genes for hydrocarbon activation by fumarate addition (bssA, assA, nmsA) and carboxylation (abcA, ancA), along with those for associated downstream pathways (bbs, bcr, bam), though the cultures incubated with hydrocarbon mixtures contained a broader diversity of fumarate addition genes. A comparative metagenomic analysis of the three cultures showed that they were functionally redundant despite their enrichment backgrounds, sharing multiple features associated with syntrophic hydrocarbon conversion to methane. In addition, a comparative analysis of the culture metagenomes with those of 41 environmental samples (containing varying proportions of methanogens) showed that the three cultures were functionally most similar to each other but distinct from other environments, including hydrocarbon-impacted environments (for example, oil sands tailings ponds and oil-affected marine sediments). This study provides a basis for understanding key functions and environmental selection in methanogenic hydrocarbon-associated communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boonfei Tan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - S Jane Fowler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nidal Abu Laban
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Dong
- Visual Genomics Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Julia Foght
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lisa M Gieg
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Shi Y, Huang C, Rocha KC, El-Din MG, Liu Y. Treatment of oil sands process-affected water using moving bed biofilm reactors: With and without ozone pretreatment. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 192:219-227. [PMID: 26038326 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 05/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Two moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) were operated to treat raw (untreated) and 30 mg/L ozone-treated oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). After 210 days, the MBBR process showed 18.3% of acid-extractable fraction (AEF) and 34.8% of naphthenic acids (NAs) removal, while the ozonation combined MBBR process showed higher removal of AEF (41.0%) and NAs (78.8%). Biodegradation of raw and ozone treated OSPW showed similar performance. UPLC/HRMS analysis showed a highest NAs removal efficiency with a carbon number of 14 and a -Z number of 4. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed thicker biofilms in the raw OSPW MBBR (97 ± 5 μm) than in the ozonated OSPW MBBR (71 ± 12 μm). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) results showed higher abundance of gene copies of total bacteria and nitrogen removal relevant bacteria in the ozonated OSPW MBBR, but no significant difference was found. MiSeq sequencing showed Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae, and Acidobacteria were dominant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Shi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2W2, Canada
| | - Chunkai Huang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2W2, Canada
| | - Ketley Costa Rocha
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2W2, Canada
| | - Mohamed Gamal El-Din
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2W2, Canada
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2W2, Canada.
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Tan B, Semple K, Foght J. Anaerobic alkane biodegradation by cultures enriched from oil sands tailings ponds involves multiple species capable of fumarate addition. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2015; 91:fiv042. [PMID: 25873461 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiv042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A methanogenic short-chain alkane-degrading culture (SCADC) was enriched from oil sands tailings and transferred several times with a mixture of C6, C7, C8 and C10 n-alkanes as the predominant organic carbon source, plus 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane and methylcyclopentane as minor components. Cultures produced ∼40% of the maximum theoretical methane during 18 months incubation while depleting the n-alkanes, 2-methylpentane and methylcyclopentane. Substrate depletion correlated with detection of metabolites characteristic of fumarate activation of 2-methylpentane and methylcyclopentane, but not n-alkane metabolites. During active methanogenesis with the mixed alkanes, reverse-transcription PCR confirmed the expression of functional genes (assA and bssA) associated with hydrocarbon addition to fumarate. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes amplified during active alkane degradation revealed enrichment of Clostridia (particularly Peptococcaceae) and methanogenic Archaea (Methanosaetaceae and Methanomicrobiaceae). Methanogenic cultures transferred into medium containing sulphate produced sulphide, depleted n-alkanes and produced the corresponding succinylated alkane metabolites, but were slow to degrade 2-methylpentane and methylcyclopentane; these cultures were enriched in Deltaproteobacteria rather than Clostridia. 3-Methylpentane was not degraded by any cultures. Thus, nominally methanogenic oil sands tailings harbour dynamic and versatile hydrocarbon-degrading fermentative syntrophs and sulphate reducers capable of degrading n-, iso- and cyclo-alkanes by addition to fumarate.
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Affiliation(s)
- BoonFei Tan
- Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Kathleen Semple
- Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Julia Foght
- Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
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