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Using Flexible Gold-Titanium Reaction Cells to Simulate Pressure-Dependent Microbial Activity in the Context of Subsurface Biomining
Published on: October 5, 2019
Role of microbes in the smectite-to-illite reaction
Jinwook Kim1, Hailiang Dong, Jennifer Seabaugh
1Naval Research Laboratory, Seafloor Sciences Branch, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA. jkim@nrlssc.navy.mil
Abstract:
Temperature, pressure, and time have been thought to control the smectite-to-illite (S-I) reaction, an important diagenetic process used for petroleum exploration. We demonstrated that microorganisms can promote the S-I reaction by dissolving smectite through reduction of structural Fe(III) at room temperature and 1 atmosphere within 14 days. This reaction typically requires conditions of 300 degrees to 350 degrees C, 100 megapascals, and 4 to 5 months in the absence of microbial activity. These results challenge the conventional concept of the S-I reaction and of reaction kinetic models.
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