Gründger, F.* ; Jimenez, N.* ; Thielemann, T.* ; Straaten, N.* ; Lüders, T. ; Richnow, H.-H.* ; Krüger, M.*
Microbial methane formation in deep aquifers of a coal-bearing sedimentary basin, Germany.
Front. Microbiol. 6:200 (2015)
Coal-bearing sediments are major reservoirs of organic matter potentially available for methanogenic subsurface microbial communities. In this study the specific microbial community inside lignite-bearing sedimentary basin in Germany and its contribution to methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation processes was investigated. The stable isotope signature of methane measured in groundwater and coal-rich sediment samples indicated methanogenic activity. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the presence of methanogenic Archaea, predominantly belonging to the orders Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales, capable of acetoclastic or hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Furthermore, we identified fermenting, sulfate-, nitrate-, and metal-reducing, or acetogenic Bacteria clustering within the phyla Proteobacteria, complemented by members of the classes Actinobacteria, and Clostridia. The indigenous microbial communities found in the groundwater as well as in the coal-rich sediments are able to degrade coal-derived organic components and to produce methane as the final product. Lignite-bearing sediments may be an important nutrient and energy source influencing larger compartments via groundwater transport.
Impact Factor
Scopus SNIP
Web of Science
Times Cited
Scopus
Cited By
Altmetric
Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Thesis type
Editors
Keywords
Cenozoic Sediments ; Coal ; Fluvial Deposits ; Methanogenesis ; Methanogenic Archaea ; Methanogenic Hydrocarbon Degradation ; Stable Isotope Fractionation; Real-time Pcr; Ribosomal-rna Sequences; Powder River-basin; Sp-nov.; Methylotrophic Methanogen; Petroleum Reservoir; Reducing Conditions; Natural Gases; Pure Cultures; Crude-oil
Keywords plus
Language
english
Publication Year
2015
Prepublished in Year
HGF-reported in Year
2015
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1664-302X
e-ISSN
1664-302X
ISBN
Book Volume Title
Conference Title
Conference Date
Conference Location
Proceedings Title
Quellenangaben
Volume: 6,
Issue: ,
Pages: ,
Article Number: 200
Supplement: ,
Series
Publisher
Frontiers
Publishing Place
Lausanne
Day of Oral Examination
0000-00-00
Advisor
Referee
Examiner
Topic
University
University place
Faculty
Publication date
0000-00-00
Application date
0000-00-00
Patent owner
Further owners
Application country
Patent priority
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
20403 - Sustainable Water Management
Research field(s)
Environmental Sciences
PSP Element(s)
G-504300-005
Grants
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2015-04-05