FIGURE 6.

Possible metabolic pathway of methanogenic degradation of n-alkanes, based on the pathway proposed by Wilkes et al. (2002) and Callaghan et al. (2012). In the methanogenic n-alkanes-degrading culture, metabolic pathway from n-alkanes to methane can be presumed. Fumarate addition could be involved in the initial activation of alkanes since the detection of assA functional gene. In the phase of methanogenesis, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and formate were produced through syntrophic acetate oxidation pathway, followed by the production of methane through hydrogenotrophic or methylotrophic methanogenesis. Microorganisms are positioned according their probable role within microbial consortia.