MICR 2420 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Naphthenic Acid, Metal Toxicity, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon
28 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Bioremediation: using life forms (usually microbes) to degrade pollutants to non- toxic forms. The canadian oil sands: bitumen oil is extracted by washing with heated river water. Used water is held in large man made lakes called tailing ponds. Tailing pond water contains toxic heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, naphthenic acid (so large they can be seen from space) In 2009 ~500 migratory ducks landed on the tailing ponds and died: bacteria have been found living in oil sands tailing ponds. They are heterotrophs (naphthenic acid is organic) Find out the ph and temperature to mimic environment. Make a selective media with napthenic acid as the sole carbon energy source: two primary reasons why most deliberate attempts at bioremediation have failed . There are limiting nutrients where even if you have a massive supply of energy/carbon source the microbes won"t grow.
