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Diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a plant using deep geothermal energy

Diversität sulfatreduzierender Bakterien im Prozesswasser einer geothermischen Anlage

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Abstract

Abstract Enhanced process understanding of engineered geothermal systems is a prerequisite to optimize plant reliability and economy. We investigated microbial, geochemical and mineralogical aspects of a geothermal groundwater system located in the Molasse Basin by fluid analysis. Fluids are characterized by temperatures ranging from 61°C to 103°C, salinities from 600 to 900 mg/l and a dissolved organic carbon content (DOC) between 6.4 to 19.3 mg C/l. The microbial population of fluid samples was analyzed by genetic fingerprinting techniques based on PCR-amplified 16S rRNA- and dissimilatory sulfite reductase genes. Despite of the high temperatures, microbes were detected in all investigated fluids. Fingerprinting and DNA sequencing enabled a correlation to metabolic classes and biogeochemical processes. The analysis revealed a broad diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Overall, the detection of microbes known to be involved in biocorrosion and mineral precipitation indicates that microorganisms could play an important role for the understanding of processes in engineered geothermal systems.

Zusammenfassung

Die Verbesserung des Prozessverständnisses ist eine grundlegende Voraussetzung für eine Optimierung der Betriebssicherheit und der Ökonomie geothermischer Anlagen in Bezug auf die Partikelbildung und Korrosion. Daher wurden Prozessfluide einer Anlage im Molassebecken unter mikrobiologischen, geochemischen und mineralogischen Gesichtspunkten untersucht. Die Fluidtemperatur der vor und nach dem Wärmetauscher entnommenen Fluide betrug zwischen 103 °C und 61 °C. Die Salinität variierte zwischen 600 und 900 mg/l und der gelöste organische Kohlenstoff (DOC) lag zwischen 6,4 und 19,3 mg C/l. Die mikrobielle Lebensgemeinschaft in der Anlage wurde mithilfe einer genetischen Fingerprinting-Methode charakterisiert. Hierzu wurde das 16S rRNA Gen sowie die für sulfatreduzierende Bakterien (SRB) spezifische dissimilatorische Sulfitreduktase untersucht. In allen Fluidproben konnten Mikroorganismen nachgewiesen werden. Die Zuordnung der Organismen zu stoffwechselphysiologischen Gruppen lieferte Hinweise auf verschiedene biogeochemische Prozesse. Die Untersuchungen zeigen eine beachtliche Diversität von SRB auf. Diese sind für ihre Rolle bei biologisch induzierten Korrosions- und Fällungsprozessen bekannt.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ben Cowie and Rona Miethling-Graff for proofreading the manuscript and helpful advices. This research was funded by the BMU project “AquiScreen” (Nr. 0327634): Betriebssicherheit der geothermischen Nutzung von Aquiferen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung mikrobiologischer Aktivität und Partikelumlagerungen—Screening an repräsentativen Standorten.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internationales Geothermiezentrum, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, GFZ Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Mashal Alawi, Stephanie Lerm &  Hilke Würdemann

  2. Organische Geochemie, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, GFZ Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Alexandra Vetter

  3. Geothermie Neubrandenburg GmbH (GTN), Seestr. 7A, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany

    Markus Wolfgramm

  4. BWG Geochemische Beratung GbR, Seestr. 7A, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany

    Andrea Seibt

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  1. Mashal Alawi
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Correspondence to Hilke Würdemann.

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Alawi, M., Lerm, S., Vetter, A. et al. Diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a plant using deep geothermal energy. Grundwasser 16, 105–112 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00767-011-0164-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00767-011-0164-y

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