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Microbial Ecology of Naphthenic Acid (NA) Degradation

  • Living reference work entry
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Book cover Microbial Communities Utilizing Hydrocarbons and Lipids: Members, Metagenomics and Ecophysiology

Part of the book series: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology ((HHLM))

Abstract

Bitumen extraction produces large amounts of oil sands process-affected waters (OSPW) which are stored in vast tailings ponds. OSPW is acutely toxic to many organisms, and this toxicity is largely attributed to the presence of naphthenic acids (NAs). NAs are complex mixtures of organic compounds, including acyclic and cyclic, saturated and aromatic carboxylic acids, which traditionally fit the general formula CnH2n+zO2. Di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentacyclic diamondoid acids as well as structures that contain more than two oxygen atoms (Oxy-NAs) and/or nitrogen and sulfur have also been identified. NAs may originate from either anthropogenic (e.g., tailings ponds) or natural (e.g., Athabasca River sediments) sources. Although many studies have focused on the biodegradation of either model or commercial NAs, many of those NAs found in the environment are recalcitrant to biodegradation. Currently, little is known about the ecology of NA-degrading microorganisms and the range of NAs that they metabolize. Typically, mixed microbial communities from environments that have a history of NA contamination, such as those found in oil sands and OSPW, can degrade NAs, including recalcitrant NAs, more quickly than pure cultures. Indeed, microorganisms capable of effective NA degradation include members of the Proteobacteria, particularly Pseudomonas spp. However, NA structure and composition, as well as environmental factors such as the presence of specific electron acceptors, trace metals, and competition for substrates from non-NA-degrading microbes, are important drivers in shaping NA-degrading microbial communities. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of NA degradation for future remediation strategies, it is important to better understand the ecology of NA degradation.

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Abbreviations

AEO:

Acid-extractable organics

AS:

Activated sludge

BTEX:

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene

CHAA:

Cyclohexane acetic acid

CHBA:

Cyclohexane butyric acid

CHCA:

Cyclohexane carboxylic acid

CHPA:

Cyclohexane propionic acid

CHPeA:

Cyclohexane pentanoic acid

DA:

Decanoic acid

DHNA:

Decahydro-2-naphthoic acid

GAC:

Granular activated carbon

H2:

Hydrogen

HA:

Hexanoic acid

LC:

Lethal concentration

MCHCA:

Methyl-cyclohexane carboxylic acid

MFT:

Mature fine tailings

NA:

Naphthenic acids

OSPW:

Oil sands process-affected waters (or oil sands process waters)

Oxy-NAs:

Oxy-naphthenic acids

PAHs:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

SBR:

Sequencing batch reactor

SRB:

Sulfate-reducing bacteria

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Lisa Gieg, University of Calgary, for her useful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Essex, UK

    Karl Skeels & Corinne Whitby

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  1. Karl Skeels
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  2. Corinne Whitby
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Correspondence to Corinne Whitby .

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  1. University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK

    Terry J. McGenity

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Skeels, K., Whitby, C. (2019). Microbial Ecology of Naphthenic Acid (NA) Degradation. In: McGenity, T. (eds) Microbial Communities Utilizing Hydrocarbons and Lipids: Members, Metagenomics and Ecophysiology . Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60063-5_5-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60063-5_5-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60063-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60063-5

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