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Investigating the Microbial Degradation Potential in Oil Sands Fluid Fine Tailings Using Gamma Irradiation: A Metagenomic Perspective

  • Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

Open-pit mining of the Athabasca oil sands has generated large volumes of waste termed fluid fine tailings (FFT), stored in tailings ponds. Accumulation of toxic organic substances in the tailings ponds is one of the biggest concerns. Gamma irradiation (GI) treatment could accelerate the biodegradation of toxic organic substances. Hence, this research investigates the response of the microbial consortia in GI-treated FFT materials with an emphasis on changes in diversity and organism-related stimuli. FFT materials from aged and fresh ponds were used in the study under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Variations in the microbial diversity in GI-treated FFT materials were monitored for 52 weeks and significant stimuli (p < 0.05) were observed. Chemoorganotrophic organisms dominated in fresh and aged ponds and showed increased relative abundance resulting from GI treatment. GI-treated anaerobic FFTaged reported stimulus of organisms with biodegradation potential (e.g., Pseudomonas, Enterobacter) and methylotrophic capabilities (e.g., Syntrophus, Smithella). In comparison, GI-treated anaerobic FFTfresh stimulated Desulfuromonas as the principle genus at 52 weeks. Under aerobic conditions, GI-treated FFTaged showed stimulation of organisms capable of sulfur and iron cycling (e.g., Geobacter). However, GI-treated aerobic FFTfresh showed no stimulus at 52 weeks. This research provides an enhanced understanding of oil sands tailings biogeochemistry and the impacts of GI treatment on microorganisms as an effect for targeting toxic organics. The outcomes of this study highlight the potential for this approach to accelerate stabilization and reclamation end points.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Suncor Energy Incorporated, Syncrude Canada Limited, Total E & P., Shell Canada, Imperial Oil Resources, and Canadian Natural Resources Limited for funding support and cooperation to make this research project possible. We thank Robert Pasuta (McMaster University Nuclear Reactor Supervisor) for providing off-site research facilities and logistical support for the GI treatments. We thank former Suncor technical program manager, Christine Daly, for her support and encouragement during early stages of the program, as well as Joshua Martin who is the current program coordinator for the industrial partners. We also thank collaborative reviewers for their constructive comments throughout the process of creating this manuscript. Research funding provided by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery program and CEMA-NSERC Collaborative Research and Development grant.

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  1. Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Science, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada

    Danielle VanMensel, Subba Rao Chaganti, Ryan Boudens, Thomas Reid & Christopher Weisener

  2. Department of Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

    Jan Ciborowski

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  1. Danielle VanMensel
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Correspondence to Danielle VanMensel.

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VanMensel, D., Chaganti, S.R., Boudens, R. et al. Investigating the Microbial Degradation Potential in Oil Sands Fluid Fine Tailings Using Gamma Irradiation: A Metagenomic Perspective. Microb Ecol 74, 362–372 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-017-0953-7

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