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Methanogenesis in oil sands tailings: an analysis of the microbial community involved and its effects on tailings densification
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- Author / Creator
- Li, Carmen
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Densification of tailings slurries to mature fine tailings (MFT) is important in the oil sands industry for tailings inventory reduction, pore water recovery and tailings reclamation. The cause of methane release from the tailings pond of Shell Albian Sands (Albian) and the effects this process has on densification of Albian tailings was investigated. Citrate, added to tailings with polyacrylamide and hydrocarbon-diluent, was identified as the methanogenic substrate. Bacterial and Archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences in Albian MFT were dominated by matches to Rhodoferax, some Clostridia and sulfate-reducing bacteria, and acetoclastic methanogens. Citrate-, diluent-, and polyacrylamide-amendments to Albian MFT did not cause a microbial shift over a 10-month laboratory incubation period. A potential pathway for microbial methane production in Albian MFT is proposed. Methane production and release from citrate-amended Albian MFT correlated to accelerated densification. Though diluent and polyacrylamide did not affect methanogenesis, they potentially affect gas bubble formation and release.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2010
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.