Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics
The presence of recalcitrant organic compounds in oilfield-produced-water poses significant challenges for conventional biological treatment technologies. In this study, an Fe<sup>3+</sup>-augmented composite bioreactor was developed to enhance the multi-pollutant removal performance and...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Qiushi Zhao Chunmao Chen Zhongxi Chen Hongman Shan Jiahao Liang |
| author_facet | Qiushi Zhao Chunmao Chen Zhongxi Chen Hongman Shan Jiahao Liang |
| author_sort | Qiushi Zhao |
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| description | The presence of recalcitrant organic compounds in oilfield-produced-water poses significant challenges for conventional biological treatment technologies. In this study, an Fe<sup>3+</sup>-augmented composite bioreactor was developed to enhance the multi-pollutant removal performance and to elucidate the associated microbial community dynamics. The Fe<sup>3+</sup>-augmented system achieved efficient removal of oil (99.18 ± 0.91%), suspended solids (65.81 ± 17.55%), chemical oxygen demand (48.63 ± 15.15%), and polymers (57.72 ± 14.87%). The anaerobic compartment served as the core biotreatment unit, playing a pivotal role in microbial pollutant degradation. High-throughput sequencing indicated that Fe<sup>3+</sup> supplementation strengthened syntrophic interactions between iron-reducing bacteria (<i>Trichococcus</i> and <i>Bacillus</i>) and methanogenic archaea (<i>Methanobacterium</i> and <i>Methanomethylovorans</i>), thereby facilitating the biodegradation of long-chain hydrocarbons (e.g., eicosane and nonadecane). Further metabolic function analysis identified long-chain-fatty-acid CoA ligase (EC 6.2.1.3) as a key enzyme mediating the interplay between hydrocarbon degradation and nitrogen cycling. This study elucidated the ecological mechanisms governing Fe<sup>3+</sup>-mediated multi-pollutant removal in a composite bioreactor and highlighted the potential of this approach for efficient, sustainable, and adaptable management of produced water in the petroleum industry. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c84366bf4e2f4bcf8dd801d0b1582e2e2025-08-20T03:32:31ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-07-0112778410.3390/bioengineering12070784Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community DynamicsQiushi Zhao0Chunmao Chen1Zhongxi Chen2Hongman Shan3Jiahao Liang4College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, ChinaDaqing Oilfield Design Institute Co., Ltd., Daqing 163712, ChinaKey Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Control of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, ChinaThe presence of recalcitrant organic compounds in oilfield-produced-water poses significant challenges for conventional biological treatment technologies. In this study, an Fe<sup>3+</sup>-augmented composite bioreactor was developed to enhance the multi-pollutant removal performance and to elucidate the associated microbial community dynamics. The Fe<sup>3+</sup>-augmented system achieved efficient removal of oil (99.18 ± 0.91%), suspended solids (65.81 ± 17.55%), chemical oxygen demand (48.63 ± 15.15%), and polymers (57.72 ± 14.87%). The anaerobic compartment served as the core biotreatment unit, playing a pivotal role in microbial pollutant degradation. High-throughput sequencing indicated that Fe<sup>3+</sup> supplementation strengthened syntrophic interactions between iron-reducing bacteria (<i>Trichococcus</i> and <i>Bacillus</i>) and methanogenic archaea (<i>Methanobacterium</i> and <i>Methanomethylovorans</i>), thereby facilitating the biodegradation of long-chain hydrocarbons (e.g., eicosane and nonadecane). Further metabolic function analysis identified long-chain-fatty-acid CoA ligase (EC 6.2.1.3) as a key enzyme mediating the interplay between hydrocarbon degradation and nitrogen cycling. This study elucidated the ecological mechanisms governing Fe<sup>3+</sup>-mediated multi-pollutant removal in a composite bioreactor and highlighted the potential of this approach for efficient, sustainable, and adaptable management of produced water in the petroleum industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/7/784biodegradationchemical-flooding-produced wateroilfield wastewatermicrobial community |
| spellingShingle | Qiushi Zhao Chunmao Chen Zhongxi Chen Hongman Shan Jiahao Liang Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics Bioengineering biodegradation chemical-flooding-produced water oilfield wastewater microbial community |
| title | Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics |
| title_full | Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics |
| title_short | Enhanced Oilfield-Produced-Water Treatment Using Fe<sup>3+</sup>-Augmented Composite Bioreactor: Performance and Microbial Community Dynamics |
| title_sort | enhanced oilfield produced water treatment using fe sup 3 sup augmented composite bioreactor performance and microbial community dynamics |
| topic | biodegradation chemical-flooding-produced water oilfield wastewater microbial community |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/7/784 |
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