title: Harnessing oil sands microbial communities for use in ex situ naphthenic acid bioremediation.
abstract: The caustic hot water extraction process used to release bitumen from the Alberta oil sands generates large volumes of tailings waste, or oil sands process water (OSPW). OSPW contains several components of environmental concern including diluents, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and naphthenic acids (NAs); the latter are of particular concern as they are acutely toxic to aquatic organisms and mammals. Studies have demonstrated that the naturally occurring OSPW bacteria are capable of metabolizing the NAs. However, this in situ process takes place over hundreds of years, and is incomplete, leaving a recalcitrant fraction of NAs intact. In this study we explore options for recovering and harnessing the naturally occurring OSPW bacteria for potential future use in an aerobic ex situ OSPW treatment system. Here we evaluate our recovered microbes on their ability to degrade two model NAs, cyclohexane carboxylic acid and cyclohexane acetic acid. Using OSPW as a source for a bacterial inoculum, we were able to compare single and multispecies OSPW cultures, grown as either a biofilm, or as a planktonic suspension. Furthermore, we examined the effect of available nutrients on the ability of these cultures to degrade NAs. All biofilms were grown using the Calgary Biofilm Device. GC-MS, and GC-FID reveal that multispecies biofilm and planktonic cultures are each capable of degrading both NAs; a trait not observed for single species cultures. Moreover, complementary carbon sources have a tangible effect on the ability of the cultures to initiate the degradation of the NAs.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment, and Economy, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors: Marc A
authors: MA
authors: Demeter
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Lemire
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors: Iain
authors: I
authors: George
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors: Gordon
authors: G
authors: Yue
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment, and Economy, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Ceri
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment, and Economy, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada. Electronic address: turnerr@ucalgary.ca.
authors: Raymond J
authors: RJ
authors: Turner
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C006647:asphalt; C046170:naphthenic acid
keywords: Biofilms; Bioreactor; Bioremediation; Naphthenic acids; Oil sands; Tailings ponds