Assessment of Anaerobic Bioremediation Potential in Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers in Alberta, Canada
Date
2019-04-30
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Abstract
Anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbon fuels (mono-aromatic and short chain alkane hydrocarbon) was demonstrated under both field and microcosm experiments, with detection of signature metabolites, fumarate addition genes, and microbial community composition to determine the potential of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites for bioremediation and assess the evidence of its past and/or present occurrence. It was determined here that the potential for bioremediation is unique to both the contaminated sites, but also to the hydrocarbon load present. Quantification of the fumarate addition genes using a newly-designed mixture of primers was done. These qPCR assays for assA and bssA abundances concluded that an upper limit to gene abundance is present according to hydrocarbon concentrations, of approximately 5 ppm hydrocarbon. Monitoring hydrocarbon loss from groundwater collected at these sites, paired with fumarate addition gene abundances concluded that the contaminated sites in question have the potential for bioremediation, but is limited with higher hydrocarbon concentrations.
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hydrocarbon, bioremediation, qPCR, environmental microbiology, fumarate addition, anaerobic microbiology
Citation
Kharey, G. S. (2019). Assessment of Anaerobic Bioremediation Potential in Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers in Alberta, Canada (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.