[U-05] Natural Hydrogen, Understanding its Subsurface System and Production Engineering

[U05-P05] Microbial hydrogen metabolisms in deep-sea cold seep

*Yanlong Li¹, Anh Que² (1.Laoshan Laboratory, 2.Nagasaki University)

Keywords:

natural hydrogen,deepsea,microbial hydrogen metabolism

Natural hydrogen attracted considerable attentions due to its enlightenments for early life on our planet, limits of microbial life, exobiology potentials, and human gastrointestinal disorders.Here we report the discovery of a new hydrocarbon seep flourished by active molecular hydrogen cycle, in the northern South China Sea during an expedition using the manned submersible Jiaolong. we propose that use hydrogen as an energy source is widespread in cold seeps, revolutionizing the previous knowledge that chemosynthesis-based microbial communities in hydrocarbon seeps are dominantly powered by reduced sulphur compounds and methane. The findingso enlighten that cold seep might be a net-source of natural hydrogen resources.