Session: 16-01: Poster Presentations

Paper Number: 132779

132779 - Harnessing Oil Reservoir’s Microbial Communities for Sustainable Co2 Conversion Through Electrosynthesis 

Abstract: 

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) stands as a promising biotechnology for converting Carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable chemicals using microbial catalysts. In MES, microbial catalysts use the cathode (electrons/ hydrogen (H₂)) as a sole source of energy to reduce CO₂. Integrating a Microbial electrosynthesis system (MES) with renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind power, presents a circular carbon economy model for sustainable carbon emissions mitigation. While numerous studies have focused on Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) applications with various microbial sources, the untapped potential of microbial communities from oil reservoir origins remains unexplored. A broad range of bacteria and archaea can exist in oil reservoirs, such as sulfate, nitrite, and iron reducer communities, fermenters, acetogens, and methanogens. The stress conditions such as low water content and high salinity, temperature, pressure, and hydrophobicity that are usually occupied in the oil reservoirs might trigger special metabolism pathways in the existing communities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the oil field microbial life as a source of new inoculum in MES biotechnology and unlock the potential of CO2 microbial electrosynthesis products for upstream hydrocarbon operations.

This interdisciplinary study merges (Bio)-electrochemistry, environmental (bio)-technology, and molecular microbiology to investigate the performance of microbial electrosynthesis using inocula from oil & gas reservoir microbial communities. Our objective is to evaluate their potential in capturing and converting CO₂ into valuable chemical products at the cathode of Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems. Biogas production (CH₄) and organic acids (acetic acid and propionic acid, etc.) will be analyzed using advanced chromatographic tools. Electrochemical measurements, such as the current density (CA) Chronoamperometry cyclic voltammetry (CV), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) profile will be carried out using VMP3 BioLogic potentiostat via a three-electrode setup. Microbial electrosynthesis system (MES) performance will be evaluated under different applied potentials.

The research extends beyond traditional sources by exploring extremophile bacteria in oil field environments, aiming to identify novel bioproduct compounds. The selective pressure applied in the Microbial electrosynthesis system (MES) could lead to the enrichment of new microorganisms, unlocking opportunities for isolating extremophiles and harnessing their capabilities in biotechnology and industrial operations. Furthermore, we will evaluate the inocula sources in terms of the established microbial community structure and product formation rates and selectivity. This study contributes to the broader goals of mitigating carbon emissions, offering sustainable alternatives for industrial processes, and showcasing the untapped potential of extremophile communities in the domain of microbial electrosynthesis. 

Presenting Author: Manal Alqahtani Saudi Aramco

Presenting Author Biography: An environmental engineer and field compliance coordinator at Saudi Aramco Company. I work at the Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center-Advanced Research Center (EXPEC-ARC) department in the KAUST Upstream Research Center (KURC). I hold Ph.D. and MS. degrees from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST, a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering, and a MS. in Bioscience. I am passionate about addressing environmental challenges related to carbon capture and utilization, wastewater treatment, and waste management with a specialized focus on sustainable carbon dioxide conversion into value-added products using microbial biocatalysts. I have five peer-reviewed journal publications that received considerable attention from the scientific community.

Authors:

Manal Alqahtani Saudi Aramco
Pramod Patil Saudi Aramco
Ameerah Bokhari Aramco
Jehad Eldemellawi Aramco