Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.3c04340
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Rapid consumption of dihydrogen injected into a shallow aquifer by ecophysiologically different microbes
Author Keller, N.S.; Lüders, K.; Hornbruch, G.; Birnstengel, S.; Vogt, C.; Ebert, M.; Kallies, R.; Dahmke, A.; Richnow, H.H.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2024
Department MET; TECH; AME
Volume 58
Issue 1
Page From 333
Page To 341
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
T8 Georesources
Supplements https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acs.est.3c04340/suppl_file/es3c04340_si_001.pdf
Keywords H2 economy; hydrogenotrophy; field experiment; H2 gas release; shallow groundwater; microbial community; diversity
Abstract The envisaged future dihydrogen (H2) economy requires a H2 gas grid as well as large deep underground stores. However, the consequences of an unintended spread of H2 through leaky pipes, wells, or subterranean gas migrations on groundwater resources and their ecosystems are poorly understood. Therefore, we emulated a short-term leakage incident by injecting gaseous H2 into a shallow aquifer at the TestUM test site and monitored the subsequent biogeochemical processes in the groundwater system. At elevated H2 concentrations, an increase in acetate concentrations and a decrease in microbial α-diversity with a concomitant change in microbial β-diversity were observed. Additionally, microbial H2 oxidation was indicated by temporally higher abundances of taxa known for aerobic or anaerobic H2 oxidation. After H2 concentrations diminished below the detection limit, α- and β-diversity approached baseline values. In summary, the emulated H2 leakage resulted in a temporally limited change of the groundwater microbiome and associated geochemical conditions due to the intermediate growth of H2 consumers. The results confirm the general assumption that H2, being an excellent energy and electron source for many microorganisms, is quickly microbiologically consumed in the environment after a leakage.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=28310
Keller, N.S., Lüders, K., Hornbruch, G., Birnstengel, S., Vogt, C., Ebert, M., Kallies, R., Dahmke, A., Richnow, H.H. (2024):
Rapid consumption of dihydrogen injected into a shallow aquifer by ecophysiologically different microbes
Environ. Sci. Technol. 58 (1), 333 - 341 10.1021/acs.est.3c04340