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Metabolism of BTEX and Naphtha Compounds to Methane in Oil Sands Tailings

2007; American Chemical Society; Volume: 41; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1021/es062852q

1520-5851

Tariq Siddique, Phillip M. Fedorak, Michael D. MacKinnon, Julia M. Foght,

Petroleum Processing and Analysis

Naphtha, comprising low molecular weight aliphatics and aromatics (C3−C14), is used as a diluent in processing of bitumen from oil sands. A small fraction ( o-xylene > m- plus p-xylene > ethylbenzene > benzene. Only 15−23% of whole naphtha, mainly n-alkanes (in the sequence: nonane > octane > heptane) and some BTEX compounds (toluene > o-xylene > m-xylene), was metabolized. Other naphtha constituents, such as iso-paraffins and naphthenes, remained unchanged during this period. These results suggest that the microbial communities in the MFT can readily utilize certain fractions of unrecovered naphtha in oil sands tailings and support methanogenesis in settling basins. Current study findings could influence extraction process, MFT management, and reclamation options.