Microcosm assessment of the biogeochemical development of sulfur and oxygen in oil sands fluid fine tailings

Chen, Michael; Walshe, Gillian E.; Fru, Ernest Chi; Ciborowski, Jan J. H.; Weisener, Christopher G.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.06.007

Cited by 27 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…1. These ponds were shown to produce large amounts of methane (Holowenko et al 2000), and microbial community analyses using metagenomes and SSU gene amplicon sets verified an abundance of organisms contributing to an active methane cycle, including syntrophic hydrocarbon degradation to methane in anoxic tailings Chen et al 2013;Penner and Foght 2010;Stasik et al 2014) and aerobic methanotrophy in the surface water . Diverse other prokaryotic groups capable of anaerobic and aerobic hydrocarbon degradation, sulphate reduction, sulphur oxidation, anoxygenic phototrophy, and other processes were also present.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Next‐Generation Sequencing Assessment of Eukaryotic Diversity in Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Sediments and Surface Water

Aguilar

Richardson

Tan

et al. 2016

J Eukaryotic Microbiology

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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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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…; Chen et al. ; Penner and Foght ; Stasik et al. ) and aerobic methanotrophy in the surface water (Saidi‐Mehrabad et al.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Next‐Generation Sequencing Assessment of Eukaryotic Diversity in Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Sediments and Surface Water

Aguilar

Richardson

Tan

et al. 2016

J Eukaryotic Microbiology

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“…However, in addition to organics such as residual bitumen, solvents such as naphtha and hydrocarbons, oil sands tailings pond waters are also high in

(Chen et al, 2013 ). There is emerging recognition that microbial sulfur cycling within oil sands waste contexts is active and may have environmentally important implications associated with H 2 S g production, a toxic, explosive and corrosive risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulfur Biogeochemistry of an Oil Sands Composite Tailings Deposit

et al. 2016

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Composite tailings (CT), an engineered, alkaline, saline mixture of oil sands tailings (FFT), processed sand and gypsum (CaSO4; 1 kg CaSO4 per m3 FFT) are used as a dry reclamation strategy in the Alberta Oil Sands Region (AOSR). It is estimated that 9.6 × 108 m3 of CT are either in, or awaiting emplacement in surface pits within the AOSR, highlighting their potential global importance in sulfur cycling. Here, in the first CT sulfur biogeochemistry investigation, integrated geochemical, pyrosequencing and lipid analyses identified high aqueous concentrations of ∑H2S (>300 μM) and highly altered sulfur compounds composition; low cell biomass (3.3 × 106– 6.0 × 106 cells g−1) and modest bacterial diversity (H' range between 1.4 and 1.9) across 5 depths spanning 34 m of an in situ CT deposit. Pyrosequence results identified a total of 29,719 bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences, representing 131 OTUs spanning19 phyla including 7 candidate divisions, not reported in oil sands tailings pond studies to date. Legacy FFT common phyla, notably, gamma and beta Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi were represented. However, overall CT microbial diversity and PLFA values were low relative to other contexts. The identified known sulfate/sulfur reducing bacteria constituted at most 2% of the abundance; however, over 90% of the 131 OTUs identified are capable of sulfur metabolism. While PCR biases caution against overinterpretation of pyrosequence surveys, bacterial sequence results identified here, align with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and geochemical results. The highest bacterial diversities were associated with the depth of highest porewater [∑H2S] (22–24 m) and joint porewater co-occurrence of Fe2+ and ∑H2S (6–8 m). Three distinct bacterial community structure depths corresponded to CT porewater regions of (1) shallow evident Fe(II) (<6 m), (2) co-occurring Fe(II) and ∑H2S (6–8 m) and (3) extensive ∑H2S (6–34 m) (UniFrac). Candidate divisions GNO2, NKB19 and Spam were present only at 6–8 m associated with co-occurring [Fe(II)] and [∑H2S]. Collectively, results indicate that CT materials are differentiated from other sulfur rich environments by modestly diverse, low abundance, but highly sulfur active and more enigmatic communities (7 candidate divisions present within the 19 phyla identified).

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“…A 2 × 2 experimental design (with replicates) allowed two environmental conditions (anoxic and oxic) to be tested, and determined the microbial impact (biotic vs. abiotic) on the sludge. This study design has been used in numerous past studies to address environmental impacts of various materials [20][21][22]. The four experimental conditions discussed in this study are biotic anoxic, abiotic anoxic, biotic oxic, and abiotic oxic.…”

Section: Site Description and Laboratory Incubationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…HS − , O 2 , and redox microelectrode sensors (Unisense Science, Denmark) were used to measure vertical gradients approximately 1 cm above and 1 cm below the sediment water interface, a method developed by Revsbech, (1989) [23] but more explicitly following methods by Reid et al (2016) [20]. The sensor measurements were taken near the center of the mesocosm, and before each sediment sampling period, so the profiles would be undisturbed.…”

Section: Microsensors and Diffusive Flux Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeochemical Characterization of Metal Behavior from Novel Mussel Shell Bioreactor Sludge Residues

Butler

Pope²,

Chaganti

et al. 2019

Geosciences

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Acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation commonly produces byproducts which must be stored or utilized to reduce the risk of further contamination. A mussel shell bioreactor has been implemented at a coal mine in New Zealand, which is an effective remediation option, although an accumulated sludge layer decreased efficiency which was then removed and requires storage. To understand associated risks related to storage or use of the AMD sludge material, a laboratory mesocosm study investigated the physio-chemical and biological influence in two conditions: anoxic storage (burial deep within a waste rock dump) or exposure to oxic environments (use of sludge on the surface of the mine). Solid phase characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and selective extraction was completed to compare two environmental conditions (oxic and anoxic) under biologically active and abiotic systems (achieved by gamma irradiation). Changes in microbial community structure were monitored using 16s rDNA amplification and next-generation sequencing. The results indicate that microbes in an oxic environment increase the formation of oxyhydroxides and acidic conditions increase metal mobility. In an oxic and circumneutral environment, the AMD sludge may be repurposed to act as an oxygen barrier for mine tailings or soil amendment. Anoxic conditions would likely promote the biomineralization of sulfide minerals in the AMD sludge by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), which were abundant in the system. The anoxic conditions reduced the risk of trace metals (Zn) associated with oxides, but increased Fe associated with organic material. In summary, fewer risks are associated with anoxic burial but repurposing in an oxic condition may be appropriate under favorable conditions.

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Microcosm assessment of the biogeochemical development of sulfur and oxygen in oil sands fluid fine tailings

Cited by 27 publications

References 43 publications

Next‐Generation Sequencing Assessment of Eukaryotic Diversity in Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Sediments and Surface Water

Next‐Generation Sequencing Assessment of Eukaryotic Diversity in Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Sediments and Surface Water

Sulfur Biogeochemistry of an Oil Sands Composite Tailings Deposit

Biogeochemical Characterization of Metal Behavior from Novel Mussel Shell Bioreactor Sludge Residues

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