Funding period: 2020-2022
Lead: Nicole Heshka
Total GRDI funding: $270,000
The work in this project directly addresses the reduction of methane emissions, by working to understand methane production in tailings ponds at a comprehensive chemical and genomic level. In order to mitigate or control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from froth treatment tailing (FTT) deposits, we are characterizing microbial pathways leading to GHG production in FTTs, identifying potential inhibitors of these pathways that could be used to mitigate GHG emissions and proposing pilot-scale based engineering technologies to reduce methane production. This work will allow for the identification of potential GHG mitigation strategies, by using metagenomics to illuminate the microbial processes in FTTs that lead to GHG production, and elucidating correlations between microbial communities, GHG production and the physico-chemical properties of FTTs. Preliminary assessment of remediation pathways will enable new technology that oil sands operators will be able to leverage to mitigate emissions in their tailings ponds.
Publication
- Van Dongen A, Samad A, Heshka NE, Rathie K, Martineau C, Bruant G, Degenhardt D 2021. Deep Look Into Froth Treatment Tailings: A Review of Their Microbiology and Chemistry. Microorganisms. 9: 1091-1109. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9051091
Contact us
For additional information, please contact:
Genomics R&D Initiative
Email: info@grdi-irdg.collaboration.gc.ca