Methanogenic biodegradation of C₉ to C₁₂n-alkanes initiated by Smithella via fumarate addition mechanism.

ABSTRACT: In the present study, a methanogenic alkane-degrading (a mixture of C₉ to C₁₂n-alkanes) culture enriched from production water of a low-temperature oil reservoir was established and assessed. Significant methane production was detected in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures compared with alkane-free controls over an incubation period of 1 year. At the end of the incubation, fumarate addition metabolites (C₉ to C₁₂ alkylsuccinates) and assA genes (encoding the alpha subunit of alkylsuccinate synthase) were detected only in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures. Microbial community analysis showed that putative syntrophic n-alkane degraders (Smithella) capable of initiating n-alkanes by fumarate addition mechanism were enriched in the alkane-am

SUBMITTER: Ji JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6995468 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature