title: In situ biodegradation of naphthenic acids in oil sands tailings pond water using indigenous algae-bacteria consortium.
abstract: In this study, the biodegradation of total acid-extractable organics (TAOs), commonly called naphthenic acids (NAs), was investigated. An indigenous microbial culture containing algae and bacteria was taken from the surface of a tailings pond and incubated over the course of 120days. The influence of light, oxygen and the presence of indigenous algae and bacteria, and a diatom (Navicula pelliculosa) on the TAO removal rate were elucidated. The highest biodegradation rate was observed with bacteria growth only (without light exposure) with a half-life (t(1/2)) of 203days. The algae-bacteria consortium enhanced the detoxification process, however, bacterial biomass played the main role in toxicity reduction. Principal component analysis (PCA) conducted on FT-IR spectra, identified functional groups and bonds (representing potential markers for biotransformation of TAOs) as follows: hydroxyl, carboxyl and amide groups along with CH, arylH, arylOH and NH bonds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahdavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada. Electronic address: yang.liu@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada. Electronic address: aulrich@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Ania C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000502:physiology*; D008906:Mining / Q000379:methods; D061005:Ponds / Q000382:microbiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012987:Soil; D062065:Wastewater; C046170:naphthenic acid
keywords: Algae–bacteria consortium; Biodegradation; Detoxification; Naphthenic acids; Oil sands tailings pond water