Holowenko F M, MacKinnon M D, Fedorak P M
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Can J Microbiol. 2000 Oct;46(10):927-37.
In the past decade, the large tailings pond (Mildred Lake Settling Basin) on the Syncrude Canada Ltd. lease near Fort McMurray, Alta., has gone methanogenic. Currently, about 60%-80% of the flux of gas across the surface of the tailings pond is methane. As well as adding to greenhouse gas emissions, the production of methane in the fine tailings zone of this and other settling basins may affect the performance of these settling basins and impact reclamation options. Enumeration studies found methanogens (10(5)-10(6) MPN/g) within the fine tailings zone of various oil sands waste settling basins. SRB were also present (10(4)-10(5) MPN/g) with elevated numbers when sulfate was available. The methanogenic population was robust, and sample storage up to 9 months at 4 degrees C did not cause the MPN values to change. Nor was the ability of the consortium to produce methane delayed or less efficient after storage. Under laboratory conditions, fine tailings samples released 0.10-0.25 mL CH4 (at STP)/mL fine tailings. The addition of sulfate inhibited methanogenesis by stimulating bacterial competition.
在过去十年里，位于阿尔伯塔省麦克默里堡附近加拿大森克鲁德有限公司租赁地上的大型尾矿池（米尔德里德湖沉降池）已经产生了甲烷。目前，尾矿池表面逸出的气体中约60% - 80%是甲烷。除了增加温室气体排放外，该尾矿池以及其他沉降池细尾矿区域内甲烷的产生可能会影响这些沉降池的性能，并对复垦方案产生影响。计数研究在各种油砂废矿沉降池的细尾矿区域内发现了产甲烷菌（10⁵ - 10⁶ MPN/g）。硫酸盐存在时，硫酸盐还原菌也有出现（10⁴ - 10⁵ MPN/g）且数量增加。产甲烷菌群很活跃，在4℃下储存长达9个月，MPN值并未改变。储存后该菌群产生甲烷的能力也没有延迟或效率降低。在实验室条件下，细尾矿样品每毫升细尾矿释放0.10 - 0.25毫升甲烷（标准温度和压力下）。添加硫酸盐通过刺激细菌竞争抑制了甲烷生成。
