Zero-valent iron on Mars: An alternative energy source for methanogens

Chastain, Brendon K.; Kral, T. A.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.02.024

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…In extension of their ability to reduce structural Fe(III) in clay minerals (Liu et al 2011), methanogens have been recently revealed to produce hydrogen and methane in a mixture of metallic iron and montmorillonite (Chastain & Kral 2010). The observation of higher methane production and corrosion rates by at least three orders of magnitude in a mixture of a fine powder of metallic iron with Boom Clay -water slurry as compared with a mixture containing steel instead of metallic iron (Ortiz et al 2002) can be considered as a further demonstration for this methanogen's ability.…”

Section: Microbial Gas Production and Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial processes relevant for the long-term performance of high-level radioactive waste repositories in clays

Meleshyn

2014

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The primary purpose of the present work was to qualitatively evaluate the relevance of microbial activity for the long-term performance of a deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel utilizing clay and to identify which safety-relevant processes and properties can be potentially influenced by this activity. Deterioration of clay properties accompanying destabilization and destruction of clay mineral structure as a result of microbial actions can be considered as the primary microbial impact on clay. The present analysis identified eight clay properties essential for maintaining safety functions of containment and retardation of the disposal system -swelling pressure, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, anion sorption capacity, porosity, permeability, fluid pressure and plasticity -which can potentially be influenced by microbial processes in clay-based materials and claystone within a repository. Radioactive waste canisters and over-packs made from cast metal or steel represent a further component of the engineered barrier system which can be strongly affected by microbial activity in the clay buffer or in the adjacent host rock. This work should provide a basis for a follow-up quantitative estimation of the maximum possible effects of microbial processes on the barrier system of a deep geological repository in clay.

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Section: Microbial Gas Production and Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial processes relevant for the long-term performance of high-level radioactive waste repositories in clays

Meleshyn

2014

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“…For the past two decades, methanogens isolated from terrestrial habitats have been studied as a model for extraterrestrial life [ 25 , 26 ]. As shown in Mars-modeling experiments, methanogens could exist on a low concentration of molecular hydrogen [ 27 ], on a Mars soils stimulant [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], survive following desiccation at various pressure values [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], and be sensitive to ultraviolet radiation [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Perchlorates on the Permafrost Methanogens: Implication for Autotrophic Life on Mars

2015

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The terrestrial permafrost represents a range of possible cryogenic extraterrestrial ecosystems on Earth-like planets without obvious surface ice, such as Mars. The autotrophic and chemolithotrophic psychrotolerant methanogens are more likely than aerobes to function as a model for life forms that may exist in frozen subsurface environments on Mars, which has no free oxygen, inaccessible organic matter, and extremely low amounts of unfrozen water. Our research on the genesis of methane, its content and distribution in permafrost horizons of different ages and origin demonstrated the presence of methane in permanently frozen fine-grained sediments. Earlier, we isolated and described four strains of methanogenic archaea of Methanobacterium and Methanosarcina genera from samples of Pliocene and Holocene permafrost from Eastern Siberia. In this paper we study the effect of sodium and magnesium perchlorates on growth of permafrost and nonpermafrost methanogens, and present evidence that permafrost hydogenotrophic methanogens are more resistant to the chaotropic agent found in Martian soil. In this paper we study the effect of sodium and magnesium perchlorates on the growth of permafrost and nonpermafrost methanogens, and present evidence that permafrost hydogenotrophic methanogens are more resistant to the chaotropic agent found in Martian soil. Furthermore, as shown in the studies strain M2T M. arcticum, probably can use perchlorate anion as an electron acceptor in anaerobic methane oxidation. Earth’s subzero subsurface environments are the best approximation of environments on Mars, which is most likely to harbor methanogens; thus, a biochemical understanding of these pathways is expected to provide a basis for designing experiments to detect autotrophic methane-producing life forms on Mars.

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“…Most recently, the promotion for AD using ZVI has also been documented [1,23,24]. The preliminary idea of using ZVI is based on the release of hydrogen through electron transfer during ZVI corrosion/oxidation [23], which can serve as an electron-donor source for methanogens [25][26][27][28], sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) [21] or dechlorinating bacteria [22,23]. For instance, the activities of key enzymes in hydrolysis-acidification were reported to increase 0.6-1 time through adding ZVI and methane yield raised 43.5% [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of zero valent scrap iron (ZVSI) supply on methane production from waste activated sludge

Zhen

Lü

Liu

et al. 2015

Chemical Engineering Journal

170

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Zero-valent iron on Mars: An alternative energy source for methanogens

Cited by 21 publications

References 27 publications

Microbial processes relevant for the long-term performance of high-level radioactive waste repositories in clays

Microbial processes relevant for the long-term performance of high-level radioactive waste repositories in clays

The Effects of Perchlorates on the Permafrost Methanogens: Implication for Autotrophic Life on Mars

Influence of zero valent scrap iron (ZVSI) supply on methane production from waste activated sludge

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