Thermophilic methanogenic long-chain n-paraffins(C21-C30)-degrading enrichment cultures

Microbial anaerobic alkane degradation is a key process in subsurface oil reservoirs and anoxic environments contaminated with petroleum, with a major impact on global carbon cycling. However, the thermopiles capable of water-insoluble long-chain paraffinic n-alkanes (>C17) degradation under methanogenic condition has remained understudied. Here, we established thermophilic (55 celsis degree) n-paraffins-degrading (C21-C30) enrichment cultures from an oil reservoir. After over 900 days of incubation, the even-numbered n-paraffins were biodegraded to methane.