Processing bitumen from the Athabasca oil sands of Alberta, Canada offers many unique challenges. The conversion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to more linear alkanes for diesel fuel is a significant challenge. Hydrogenation can convert these aromatics to saturated cyclic structures. This study investigates the potential of opening the resulting saturated ring structures using biocatalysts. Decalin was selected as the model compound for the study. Efforts were made to isolate bacteria capable of degrading this compound. This process was successful, as at least two bacterial types were identified capable of causing decalin degradation. In addition, these bacteria were able to cause removal of 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane (HMN) via cometabolism. Finally the bacteria were able to degrade the n-alkane decane. Due to the lack of selective attack towards cycloalkanes, the bacteria isolated are likely unsuitable for use as biocatalysts in upgrading processes without genetic modification. However, the results offer new opportunities for bioremediation applications.
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