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Afzal I, Kuznetsova A, Foght J, Ulrich A, Siddique T. Microbial interactions with magnetite enhance methane production from hydrocarbon biodegradation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 492:138082. [PMID: 40163993 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138082] [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: 12/04/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2025] [Accepted: 03/26/2025] [Indexed: 04/02/2025]
Abstract
Indigenous microbial communities in fine tailings (FT) biodegrade residual diluent hydrocarbons and support CH4 emissions from oil sands tailings ponds and end-pit lakes. We investigated the effect of added crystalline Fe mineral magnetite on microbial metabolism of hydrocarbons in FT collected from methanogenically less and more active sites of an end-pit lake. Magnetite accelerated CH4 production by enhancing the biodegradation of hydrocarbons, with a more prominent effect on complex/relatively recalcitrant aliphatics (C8-C11 compounds) and monoaromatics. Interestingly, 86-92 % of total magnetite added in FT remained stable even after the metabolism of labile hydrocarbons (∼45 % of total diluent hydrocarbons). This may be due to magnetite enabling mineralogical direct interspecies electron transfer (mDIET) rather than iron reduction to enhance the methanogenic biodegradation of hydrocarbons. Enrichment of Coriobacteriaceae along with Desulfosporosinus, Syntrophus, Peptococcaceae, Smithella, Methanosaeta, and Methanoregula in magnetite-supplemented FT during hydrocarbon biodegradation suggested their potential role in developing mDIET. These results suggest that magnetite, when present, accelerates methanogenesis and potentially may increase rather than suppress CH4 emissions from FT, and also suggest the potential use of magnetite to accelerate bioremediation of other hydrocarbon-contaminated anaerobic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iram Afzal
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G7, Canada
| | - Alsu Kuznetsova
- 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
| | - Ania Ulrich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Tariq Siddique
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G7, Canada.
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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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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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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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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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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: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 0.5] [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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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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Liu JF, Lu YW, Zhou L, Li W, Hou ZW, Yang SZ, Wu XL, Gu JD, Mu BZ. Simultaneous detection of transcribed functional assA gene and the corresponding metabolites of linear alkanes (C 4, C 5, and C 7) in production water of a low-temperature oil reservoir. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 746:141290. [PMID: 32745846 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation is an important biogeochemical process in oil reservoirs; however, genomic DNA-based analysis of microorganisms and metabolite detection are not conclusive for identification of the ongoing nature of this bioprocess. In this study, a suite of analyses, involving the study of microbial community and selective gene quantification of both genomic DNA and RNA together with signature metabolites, were performed to comprehensively advance the understanding of the methanogenic biodegradation of hydrocarbons in a low-temperature oilfield. The fumarate addition products for alkanes-C4, C5, and C7-alkylsuccinates-and transcribed assA and mcrA genes were simultaneously detected in the production water sample, providing robust and convincing evidence for both the initial activation of n-alkanes and methane metabolism in this oilfield. The clone library of assA gene transcripts showed that Smithella was active and most likely responsible for the addition of fumarate to n-alkanes, whereas Methanoculleus and Methanothrix were the dominant and active methane-producers via CO2 reduction and acetoclastic pathways, respectively. Additionally, qPCR results of assA and mcrA genes and their transcribed gene copy numbers revealed a roughly similar transcriptional activity in both n-alkanes-degraders and methane producers, implying that they were the major participants in the methanogenic degradation of n-alkanes in this oilfield. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report presenting sufficient speculation, through detection of signature intermediates, corresponding gene quantification at transcriptional levels, and microbial community analysis, of methanogenic degradation of n-alkanes in production water of an oil reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Yu-Wei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Wei Li
- Exploration and Development Research Institute of Daqing Oilfield Company Limited, PetroChina, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163712, PR China
| | - Zhao-Wei Hou
- Exploration and Development Research Institute of Daqing Oilfield Company Limited, PetroChina, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163712, PR China
| | - Shi-Zhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Xiao-Lin Wu
- Exploration and Development Research Institute of Daqing Oilfield Company Limited, PetroChina, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163712, PR China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, PR China
| | - Bo-Zhong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China.
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Laczi K, Erdeiné Kis Á, Szilágyi Á, Bounedjoum N, Bodor A, Vincze GE, Kovács T, Rákhely G, Perei K. New Frontiers of Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in the Multi-Omics Era. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:590049. [PMID: 33304336 PMCID: PMC7701123 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.590049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment substantially endangers terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Many microbial strains have been recognized to utilize aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons under aerobic conditions. Nevertheless, most of these pollutants are transferred by natural processes, including rain, into the underground anaerobic zones where their degradation is much more problematic. In oxic zones, anaerobic microenvironments can be formed as a consequence of the intensive respiratory activities of (facultative) aerobic microbes. Even though aerobic bioremediation has been well-characterized over the past few decades, ample research is yet to be done in the field of anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation. With the emergence of high-throughput techniques, known as omics (e.g., genomics and metagenomics), the individual biodegraders, hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities and metabolic pathways, interactions can be described at a contaminated site. Omics approaches provide the opportunity to examine single microorganisms or microbial communities at the system level and elucidate the metabolic networks, interspecies interactions during hydrocarbon mineralization. Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics, for example, can shed light on the active genes and proteins and functional importance of the less abundant species. Moreover, novel unculturable hydrocarbon-degrading strains and enzymes can be discovered and fit into the metabolic networks of the community. Our objective is to review the anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation processes, the most important hydrocarbon degraders and their diverse metabolic pathways, including the use of various terminal electron acceptors and various electron transfer processes. The review primarily focuses on the achievements obtained by the current high-throughput (multi-omics) techniques which opened new perspectives in understanding the processes at the system level including the metabolic routes of individual strains, metabolic/electric interaction of the members of microbial communities. Based on the multi-omics techniques, novel metabolic blocks can be designed and used for the construction of microbial strains/consortia for efficient removal of hydrocarbons in anaerobic zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztián Laczi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Erdeiné Kis
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Árpád Szilágyi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Naila Bounedjoum
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Environmental and Technological Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Bodor
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Environmental and Technological Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Tamás Kovács
- Department of Biotechnology, Nanophagetherapy Center, Enviroinvest Corporation, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Rákhely
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Environmental and Technological Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Katalin Perei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Environmental and Technological Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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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: 1.2] [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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12
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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: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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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13
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Ji JH, Zhou L, Mbadinga SM, Irfan M, Liu YF, Pan P, Qi ZZ, Chen J, Liu JF, Yang SZ, Gu JD, Mu BZ. Methanogenic biodegradation of C 9 to C 12n-alkanes initiated by Smithella via fumarate addition mechanism. AMB Express 2020; 10:23. [PMID: 32008120 PMCID: PMC6995468 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-020-0956-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, a methanogenic alkane-degrading (a mixture of C9 to C12n-alkanes) culture enriched from production water of a low-temperature oil reservoir was established and assessed. Significant methane production was detected in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures compared with alkane-free controls over an incubation period of 1 year. At the end of the incubation, fumarate addition metabolites (C9 to C12 alkylsuccinates) and assA genes (encoding the alpha subunit of alkylsuccinate synthase) were detected only in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures. Microbial community analysis showed that putative syntrophic n-alkane degraders (Smithella) capable of initiating n-alkanes by fumarate addition mechanism were enriched in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures. In addition, both hydrogenotrophic (Methanocalculus) and acetoclastic (Methanothrix) methanogens were also observed. Our results provide further evidence that alkanes can be activated by addition to fumarate under methanogenic conditions.
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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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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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15
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Chen X, Xu Y, Fan M, Chen Y, Shen S. The stimulatory effect of humic acid on the co-metabolic biodegradation of tetrabromobisphenol A in bioelectrochemical system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 235:350-356. [PMID: 30703649 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the typical organic component of humic acid (HA) was studied to explore its effect on the co-metabolic biodegradation of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in bioelectrochemical systems (BES). The degradation efficiency, intermediate metabolites and microbial diversity were investigated to demonstrate the impact of HA on the biodegradation of TBBPA in BES-HA-T (Bioelectrochemical system with TBBPA as substrate and HA as a stimulating factor). The highest biodegradation rate (93.2%) for TBBPA were obtained, which illustrated that HA played a positive role in the biodegradation of TBBPA. According to the analysis of the intermediate metabolites, it can be concluded that HA has changed the biodegradation pathway of TBBPA. The analysis of microbial diversity showed that the interaction of microorganisms had great effects on the anaerobic biodegradation of TBBPA, especially Trichococcus and Anaerolineaceae. Meanwhile, the abundance of Desulfobulbus in the BES-HA (Bioelectrochemical system with HA as a stimulating factor) had a positive effect on the improvement of electrochemical system performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Chen
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Mengjie Fan
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Inorganic Function Composites, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yingwen Chen
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China.
| | - Shubao Shen
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China
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16
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Wang X, Li X, Yu L, Huang L, Xiu J, Lin W, Zhang Y. Characterizing the microbiome in petroleum reservoir flooded by different water sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 653:872-885. [PMID: 30759613 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum reservoir is an unusual subsurface biosphere, where indigenous microbes lived and evolved for million years. However, continual water injection changed the situation by introduction of new electron acceptors, donors and exogenous microbes. In this study, 16S-rRNA gene sequencing, comparative metagenomics and genomic bins reconstruction were employed to investigate the microbial community and metabolic potential in three typical water-flooded blocks of the Shen84 oil reservoir in Liaohe oil field, China. The results showed significant difference of microbial community compositions and metabolic characteristics existed between the injected water and the produced water/oil mixtures; however, there was considerable uniformity between the produced samples in different blocks. Microbial communities in the produced fluids were dominated by exogenous facultative microbes such as Pseudomonas and Thauera members from Proteobacteria phylum. Metabolic potentials for O2-dependent hydrocarbon degradation, dissimilarly nitrate reduction, and thiosulfate‑sulfur oxidation were much more abundant, whereas genes involved in dissimilatory sulfate reduction, anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation and methanogenesis were less abundant in the oil reservoir. Statistical analysis indicated the water composition had an obvious influence on microbial community composition and metabolic potential. The water-flooding process accompanied with introduction of nitrate or nitrite, and dissolved oxygen promoted the alteration of microbiome in oil reservoir from slow-growing anaerobic indigenous microbes (such as Thermotoga, Clostridia, and Syntrophobacter) to fast-growing opportunists as Beta- and Gama- Proteobacteria. The findings of this study shed light on the microbial ecology change in water flooded petroleum reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Wang
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Beijing 100083, PR China; Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China
| | - Xizhe Li
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Beijing 100083, PR China; Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China.
| | - Li Yu
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China; Institute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China
| | - Lixin Huang
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China; Institute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China
| | - Jianlong Xiu
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina Company Limited, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China; Institute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China
| | - Wei Lin
- Institute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang, Hebei 065007, PR China; Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yanming Zhang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center, Beijing 100176, PR China
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17
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Methanogenic degradation of branched alkanes in enrichment cultures of production water from a high-temperature petroleum reservoir. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:2391-2401. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-09574-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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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: 4.6] [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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