Impacts of shallow geothermal energy production on redox processes and the microbial communities

M. Bonte; W.F.M. Roling; E. Zaura; P.W.W.J van der Wielen; P.J. Stuyfzand; B.M. van Breukelen; P.J. Stuijfzand

doi:10.1021/es4030244

Impacts of shallow geothermal energy production on redox processes and the microbial communities

M. Bonte, W.F.M. Roling, E. Zaura, P.W.W.J van der Wielen, P.J. Stuyfzand, B.M. van Breukelen, P.J. Stuijfzand

AIMMS

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Shallow geothermal systems are increasingly being used to store or harvest thermal energy for heating or cooling purposes. This technology causes temperature perturbations exceeding the natural variations in aquifers, which may impact groundwater quality. Here, we report the results of laboratory experiments on the effect of temperature variations (5-80 C) on redox processes and associated microbial communities in anoxic unconsolidated subsurface sediments. Both hydrochemical and microbiological data showed that a temperature increase from 11 C (in situ) to 25 C caused a shift from iron-reducing to sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Bioenergetic calculations could explain this shift. A further temperature increase (>45 C) resulted in the emergence of a thermophilic microbial community specialized in fermentation and sulfate reduction. Two distinct maxima in sulfate reduction rates, of similar orders of magnitude (5 × 10

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	14476-14484
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology
Volume	47
Issue number	24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/es4030244
Publication status	Published - 2013

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1021/es4030244

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@article{403c93968bc94088a6208a6fd35939af,

title = "Impacts of shallow geothermal energy production on redox processes and the microbial communities",

abstract = "Shallow geothermal systems are increasingly being used to store or harvest thermal energy for heating or cooling purposes. This technology causes temperature perturbations exceeding the natural variations in aquifers, which may impact groundwater quality. Here, we report the results of laboratory experiments on the effect of temperature variations (5-80 C) on redox processes and associated microbial communities in anoxic unconsolidated subsurface sediments. Both hydrochemical and microbiological data showed that a temperature increase from 11 C (in situ) to 25 C caused a shift from iron-reducing to sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Bioenergetic calculations could explain this shift. A further temperature increase (>45 C) resulted in the emergence of a thermophilic microbial community specialized in fermentation and sulfate reduction. Two distinct maxima in sulfate reduction rates, of similar orders of magnitude (5 × 10",

author = "M. Bonte and W.F.M. Roling and E. Zaura and {van der Wielen}, P.W.W.J and P.J. Stuyfzand and {van Breukelen}, B.M. and P.J. Stuijfzand",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1021/es4030244",

language = "English",

volume = "47",

pages = "14476--14484",

journal = "Environmental Science and Technology",

issn = "0013-936X",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "24",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impacts of shallow geothermal energy production on redox processes and the microbial communities

AU - Bonte, M.

AU - Roling, W.F.M.

AU - Zaura, E.

AU - van der Wielen, P.W.W.J

AU - Stuyfzand, P.J.

AU - van Breukelen, B.M.

AU - Stuijfzand, P.J.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Shallow geothermal systems are increasingly being used to store or harvest thermal energy for heating or cooling purposes. This technology causes temperature perturbations exceeding the natural variations in aquifers, which may impact groundwater quality. Here, we report the results of laboratory experiments on the effect of temperature variations (5-80 C) on redox processes and associated microbial communities in anoxic unconsolidated subsurface sediments. Both hydrochemical and microbiological data showed that a temperature increase from 11 C (in situ) to 25 C caused a shift from iron-reducing to sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Bioenergetic calculations could explain this shift. A further temperature increase (>45 C) resulted in the emergence of a thermophilic microbial community specialized in fermentation and sulfate reduction. Two distinct maxima in sulfate reduction rates, of similar orders of magnitude (5 × 10

AB - Shallow geothermal systems are increasingly being used to store or harvest thermal energy for heating or cooling purposes. This technology causes temperature perturbations exceeding the natural variations in aquifers, which may impact groundwater quality. Here, we report the results of laboratory experiments on the effect of temperature variations (5-80 C) on redox processes and associated microbial communities in anoxic unconsolidated subsurface sediments. Both hydrochemical and microbiological data showed that a temperature increase from 11 C (in situ) to 25 C caused a shift from iron-reducing to sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Bioenergetic calculations could explain this shift. A further temperature increase (>45 C) resulted in the emergence of a thermophilic microbial community specialized in fermentation and sulfate reduction. Two distinct maxima in sulfate reduction rates, of similar orders of magnitude (5 × 10

U2 - 10.1021/es4030244

DO - 10.1021/es4030244

M3 - Article

VL - 47

SP - 14476

EP - 14484

JO - Environmental Science and Technology

JF - Environmental Science and Technology

SN - 0013-936X

IS - 24

ER -

Impacts of shallow geothermal energy production on redox processes and the microbial communities

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Cite this