Identification of carbon fixation microorganisms and pathways in an aquifer contaminated with long-chain petroleum hydrocarbons

Abstract

Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) can be biodegraded into CO2, and PHC-contaminated aquifers are always deemed as carbon sources. Fortunately, some carbon fixation microorganisms have been found in PHC-contaminated sites. However, most of the studies are related to volatile short-chain PHC, and few studies focus on long-chain PHC-contaminated sites. To reveal the carbon fixation microorganisms in these sites, in the study, a long-chain PHC polluted site in North China was selected. Through hydrochemical and metagenomics analysis, the structure and capacity of carbon fixing microorganisms in the site were revealed. Results showed that there were many kinds of carbon fixed microorganisms that were identified such as Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas. HP/4HB, rTCA, and DC/4HB cycles were dominated carbon fixation pathways. The long-chain PHC were weakly correlated with carbon fixation microorganisms, but it may stimulate the growth of some carbon fixation microorganisms, such as microorganisms involved in rTCA cycle. Practitioner Points: The microorganisms with carbon fixation gene exist in the aquifer contaminated by long-chain petroleum hydrocarbon. Microorganisms that have the ability to degrade petroleum also have the ability to carbon fixation. Long-chain petroleum hydrocarbon may promote the growth of carbon fixation microorganisms.