Influence of Petroleum Deposit Geometry on Local Gradient of Electron Acceptors and Microbial Catabolic Potential

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dc.contributor.authorSingh, Gargien
dc.contributor.committeechairPruden, Amyen
dc.contributor.committeecochairWiddowson, Mark A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberNovak, John T.en
dc.contributor.departmentCivil Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:32:26Zen
dc.date.adate2012-04-17en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:32:26Zen
dc.date.issued2012-02-27en
dc.date.rdate2012-04-17en
dc.date.sdate2012-03-08en
dc.description.abstractA field survey was conducted following the Deepwater Horizon blowout and it was noted that resulting coastal petroleum deposits possessed distinct geometries, ranging from small tar balls to expansive horizontal oil sheets. A laboratory study evaluated the effect of oil deposit geometry on localized gradients of electron acceptors and microbial community composition, factors that are critical to accurately estimating biodegradation rates. One-dimensional top-flow sand columns with 12-hour simulated tidal cycles compared two contrasting geometries (isolated tar "balls" versus horizontal "sheets") relative to an oil-free control. Significant differences in the effluent dissolved oxygen and sulfate concentrations were noted among the columns, indicating presence of anaerobic zones in the oiled columns, particularly in the sheet condition. Furthermore, quantification of genetic markers of electron acceptor and catabolic conditions via quantitative polymerase chain reaction of dsrA (sulfate-reduction), mcrA (methanogenesis), and cat23 (oxygenation of aromatics) genes in column cores suggested more extensive anaerobic conditions induced by the sheet relative to the ball geometry. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis similarly revealed that distinct gradients of bacterial communities established in response to the different geometries. Thus, petroleum deposit geometry impacts local redox and microbial characteristics and may be a key factor for advancing attenuation models and prioritizing cleanup.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-03082012-120707en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03082012-120707/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/31431en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartSingh_G_T_2012.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectPetroleum depositen
dc.subjectqPCRen
dc.subjectDGGEen
dc.subjectmcrAen
dc.subjectdsrAen
dc.subjectcat23en
dc.subjectgeometryen
dc.subjectoil spillen
dc.subjectgene biomarkersen
dc.subjectcoastal contaminationen
dc.subjectDeepwater Horizonen
dc.subjectBP oil spillen
dc.subjectGulf of Mexicoen
dc.titleInfluence of Petroleum Deposit Geometry on Local Gradient of Electron Acceptors and Microbial Catabolic Potentialen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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