Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction
The extraction of bitumen from the Albertan oilsands produces large amounts of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) that requires remediation. Classical naphthenic acids (NAs), a complex mixture of organic compounds containing O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> species, are present...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/7/1502 |
| _version_ | 1797526568214462464 |
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| author | Amy-lynne Balaberda Ania C. Ulrich |
| author_facet | Amy-lynne Balaberda Ania C. Ulrich |
| author_sort | Amy-lynne Balaberda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The extraction of bitumen from the Albertan oilsands produces large amounts of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) that requires remediation. Classical naphthenic acids (NAs), a complex mixture of organic compounds containing O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> species, are present in the acid extractable organic fraction of OSPW and are a primary cause of acute toxicity. A potential remediation strategy is combining chemical oxidation and biodegradation. Persulfate as an oxidant is advantageous, as it is powerful, economical, and less harmful towards microorganisms. This is the first study to examine persulfate oxidation coupled to biodegradation for NA remediation. Merichem NAs were reacted with 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/L of unactivated persulfate at 21 °C and 500 and 1000 mg/L of activated persulfate at 30 °C, then inoculated with <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> LP6a after 2 months. At 21 °C, the coupled treatment removed 52.8–98.9% of Merichem NAs, while 30 °C saw increased removals of 99.4–99.7%. Coupling persulfate oxidation with biodegradation improved removal of Merichem NAs and chemical oxidation demand by up to 1.8× and 6.7×, respectively, and microbial viability was enhanced up to 4.6×. Acute toxicity towards <i>Vibrio fischeri</i> was negatively impacted by synergistic interactions between the persulfate and Merichem NAs; however, it was ultimately reduced by 74.5–100%. This study supports that persulfate oxidation coupled to biodegradation is an effective and feasible treatment to remove NAs and reduce toxicity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:31:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1867528ad31a40ab834dc9967af5f30e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:31:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-1867528ad31a40ab834dc9967af5f30e2023-11-22T04:26:43ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-07-0197150210.3390/microorganisms9071502Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity ReductionAmy-lynne Balaberda0Ania C. Ulrich1Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, CanadaDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, CanadaThe extraction of bitumen from the Albertan oilsands produces large amounts of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) that requires remediation. Classical naphthenic acids (NAs), a complex mixture of organic compounds containing O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> species, are present in the acid extractable organic fraction of OSPW and are a primary cause of acute toxicity. A potential remediation strategy is combining chemical oxidation and biodegradation. Persulfate as an oxidant is advantageous, as it is powerful, economical, and less harmful towards microorganisms. This is the first study to examine persulfate oxidation coupled to biodegradation for NA remediation. Merichem NAs were reacted with 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/L of unactivated persulfate at 21 °C and 500 and 1000 mg/L of activated persulfate at 30 °C, then inoculated with <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> LP6a after 2 months. At 21 °C, the coupled treatment removed 52.8–98.9% of Merichem NAs, while 30 °C saw increased removals of 99.4–99.7%. Coupling persulfate oxidation with biodegradation improved removal of Merichem NAs and chemical oxidation demand by up to 1.8× and 6.7×, respectively, and microbial viability was enhanced up to 4.6×. Acute toxicity towards <i>Vibrio fischeri</i> was negatively impacted by synergistic interactions between the persulfate and Merichem NAs; however, it was ultimately reduced by 74.5–100%. This study supports that persulfate oxidation coupled to biodegradation is an effective and feasible treatment to remove NAs and reduce toxicity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/7/1502oilsandsbioremediationoxidationpersulfatetailingsnaphthenic acids |
| spellingShingle | Amy-lynne Balaberda Ania C. Ulrich Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction Microorganisms oilsands bioremediation oxidation persulfate tailings naphthenic acids |
| title | Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction |
| title_full | Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction |
| title_fullStr | Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction |
| title_short | Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction |
| title_sort | persulfate oxidation coupled with biodegradation by i pseudomonas fluorescens i enhances naphthenic acid remediation and toxicity reduction |
| topic | oilsands bioremediation oxidation persulfate tailings naphthenic acids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/7/1502 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amylynnebalaberda persulfateoxidationcoupledwithbiodegradationbyipseudomonasfluorescensienhancesnaphthenicacidremediationandtoxicityreduction AT aniaculrich persulfateoxidationcoupledwithbiodegradationbyipseudomonasfluorescensienhancesnaphthenicacidremediationandtoxicityreduction |