Aerobic biodegradation of hopanes and norhopanes in Venezuelan crude oils Academic Article

abstract

• The microbial degradation of two Venezuelan crude oils enriched in 25-norhopanes was examined after a 5-week aerobic incubation using a microbial enrichment culture. Analysis of the oils using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed degradation of the C28 tricyclic terpane, the C29-C34 17(H), 21(H)-hopanes, and the C29 17(H), 21(H)-25-norhopane. The C35 17(H), 21(H)-hopane and 18(H)-oleanane were conserved. Further, the C28C-34 17(H),21(H)-25-norhopanes were degraded and no formation of 25-norhopanes was observed. Degradation caused preferential removal of the 22R versus the 22S isomer in both the extended hopanes and 25-norhopanes, implying that bacteria remove these compounds in aerobic environments. These data demonstrate 25-norhopane degradation on a time scale similar to that for other biomarkers. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.

authors

• Mcdonald, Thomas

published proceedings

• Organic Geochemistry

author list (cited authors)

• Bost, F. D., Frontera-Suau, R., McDonald, T. J., Peters, K. E., & Morris, P. J.

citation count

• 97

complete list of authors

• Bost, FD||Frontera-Suau, R||McDonald, TJ||Peters, KE||Morris, PJ

publication date

• January 2001

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Organic Geochemistry  Journal

keywords

• 25-Norhopane
• Biodegradation
• Crude Oil
• Hopane
• Venezuela

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/s0146-6380(00)00147-9

start page

• 105

end page

• 114

volume

• 32

issue

• 1

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0146-6380(00)00147-9