Staff Profile

Background

Analytical environmental and organic geochemistry. BSc Pure and Applied Chemistry with Environmental Science, MSc Organic Geochemistry, PhD on biodegradation of geochemical markers in crude oil. Post doctoral research on heavy oils and on lipids in recent sediments. Contract research and consultancy for oil companies and oil and environmental service companies.

Roles and Responsibilities

Academic coordinator of Geosciences chemical and biological technical group. Deputy degree progamme director for Environmental Consultancy and Environmental and Petroleum Geochemistry MSc courses.

Module leader and teaching on Environmental Consultancy and  Environmental and Petroleum Geochemistry MSc courses. Chemical laboratories safety officer.

Qualifications

BSc (University of Wales, Cardiff), MSc (Organic Geochemistry, Newcastle), PhD (Organic Geochemistry, Newcastle).

Previous Positions

Analytical facilities manager, Postgraduate Institute in Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry, University of Newcastle.
Post doctoral research associate, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol.
Post doctoral research associate, Organic Geochemistry Unit, Department of Geology, University of Newcastle.

Memberships

Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), Chartered chemist (C.Chem.). Member of the European Association of Organic Geochemists (EAOG).

Research Interests

Organic analytical geochemistry, petroleum geochemistry, hydrocarbon biodegradation and bioremediation, environmental biogeochemistry, analysis of trace organic pollutants in surface sediments and waters and analytical method development (especially chromatographic techniques).

Other Expertise

Analysis of naphthenic acids and acid metabolites from oil degradation.

Current Work

Crude oil biodegradation processes in surface and sub-surface environments.

Future Research

Increasing understanding of biodegradation processes for improving efficiency of hydrocarbon extraction, utilisation and bioremediation.

Research Roles

PI/CI on 4 projects

Postgraduate Supervision

Supervisor/cosupervisor of 6 PhD students

Esteem Indicators

Regularly present papers at international conferences, referee grant proposals and papers in international journals.

Funding

£600k in industry and research council funding

Industrial Relevance

Much of my research is relevant to industry and this has been reflected by funding.

Patents

Co-patent holder on two patents on enhanced energy recovery from oil reservoirs.

Postgraduate Teaching

MSc Environmental Consultancy: Module leader CEG8634 (Environmental Analytical Geochemistry) and CEG8606 (Sources, Fates and Control of Pollutants), also teach on CEG8601 (Research Methods).

MSc Environmental and Petroleum Geochemistry: Module leader CEG8632 (Sedimentary Organic Matter1), CEG8634 (Environmental Analytical Geochemistry) and CEG8626 (Petroleum in the Environment), also teach on CEG8601 (Research Methods), CEG8621 (Molecular Marker Compounds),
CEG8699 (MSc Dissertation Project) - usually supervise 5-9 projects.

MSc Renewable Energy, Enterprise and Management (REEM): SPG8025 (Energy from the Earth)

• Articles

  • Fahmi AM, Summers S, Jones M, Bowler B, Hennige S, Gutierrez T. Effect of ocean acidification on the growth, response and hydrocarbon degradation of coccolithophore-bacterial communities exposed to crude oil. Scientific Reports 2023, 13(1), 5013.
  • Schwartz-Narbonne R, Schaeffer P, Lengger SK, Blewett J, Jones DM, Motsch E, Crombie A, Jetten MSM, Mikkelsen D, Normand P, Nuijten GHL, Pancost RD, Rush D. Bacterial physiology highlighted by the δ13C fractionation of bacteriohopanetetrol isomers. Organic Geochemistry 2023, 181, 104617.
  • Fender T, van der Land C, Rouainia M, Graham SP, Jones DM, Vane CH, Wagner T. The Assessment of Organic Matter Young's Modulus Distribution with Depositional Environment and Maturity. Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth 2020, 125(12), e2020JB020435.
  • Esegbue O, Jones DM, van Bergen P, Kolonic S. Quantitative diamondoid analysis indicates oil cosourcing from a deep petroleum system onshore Niger Delta Basin. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin (AAPGB) 2020, 104(6), 1231-1259.
  • Sherry S, Grant RJ, Aitken CM, Jones M, Bowler BFJ, Larter SR, Head IM, Gray ND. Methanogenic crude oil-degrading microbial consortia are not universally abundant in anoxic environments. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 2020, 155, 105085.
  • Fender T, Rouainia M, van Der Land C, Jones DM, Mastalerz M, Hennisen JAI, Graham SP, Wagner T. Geomechanical properties of coal macerals; measurements applicable to modelling swelling of coal seams during CO₂ sequestration. International Journal of Coal Geology 2020, 228, 103528.
  • Schwartz-Narbonne R, Schaeffer P, Hopmans EC, Schenesse M, Charlton EA, Jones DM, Sinninghe Damsté JS, Ul Haque MF, Jetten MSM, Lengger SK, Murrell CJ, Normand P, Nuijten GHL, Talbot HM, Rush D. A unique bacteriohopanetetrol stereoisomer of marine anammox. Organic Geochemistry 2020, 143, 103994.
  • Mejeha OK, Head IM, Sherry A, McCann CM, Leary P, Jones DM, Gray ND. Beyond N and P: The impact of Ni on crude oil biodegradation. Chemosphere 2019, 237, 124545.
  • Gutierrez T, Morris G, Ellis D, Bowler B, Jones M, Salek K, Mulloy B, Teske A. Hydrocarbon-degradation and MOS-formation capabilities of the dominant bacteria enriched in sea surface oil slicks during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2018, 135, 205-215.
  • Oriaku TO, Jones DM. Enhanced Degradation of Benzo[α]Pyrene in Coal Tar Contaminated Soils Using Biodiesel. Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation 2018, 9(1), 1-13.
  • Aitken C, Head I, Jones DM, Rowland SJ, Scarlett AG, West CE. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, of complex mixtures of anaerobic bacterial metabolites of petroleum hydrocarbons. Journal of Chromatography A 2018, 1536, 96-109.
  • Oldenburg TBP, Jones M, Huang H, Bennett B, Shafiee NS, Head I, Larter SR. The controls on the composition of biodegraded oils in the deep subsurface- Part 4. Destruction and production of high molecular weight non-hydrocarbon species and destruction of aromatic hydrocarbons during progressive in-reservoir biodegradation. Organic Geochemistry 2017, 114, 57-80.
  • Coffinet S, Huguet A, Pedentchouk N, Bergonzinic L, Omuombod C, Williamson D, Anquetil C, Jones M, Majuleg A, Wagner T, Derenne S. Evaluation of branched GDGTs and leaf wax n-alkane δ²H as (paleo) environmental proxies in East Africa. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 2017, 198, 182-193.
  • Thompson H, Angelova A, Bowler B, Jones M, Gutierrez T. Enhanced crude oil biodegradative potential of natural phytoplankton-associated hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria. Environmental Microbiology 2017, 19(7), 2843-2861.
  • Van der Land C, Sherryl A, Jones DM, Fender T, Dutton K, Lokier S, Head IM. Organic matter distribution in hypersaline microbial mats. Organic Geochemistry 2015.
  • Sherry A, Grant RJ, Aitken CM, Jones M, Head IM, Gray ND. Volatile hydrocarbons inhibit methanogenic crude oil degradation. Frontiers in Microbiology 2014, 5, 131.
  • Singh AK, Sherry A, Gray ND, Jones DM, Bowler BFJ, Head IM. Kinetic parameters for nutrient enhanced crude oil biodegradation in intertidal marine sediments. Frontiers in Microbiology 2014, 5, 160.
  • Aitken CM, Jones DM, Maguire MJ, Gray ND, Sherry A, Bowler BFJ, Ditchfield AK, Larter SR, Head IM. Evidence that crude oil alkane activation proceeds by different mechanisms under sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 2013, 109, 162-174.
  • Sherry A, Gray ND, Ditchfield AK, Aitken CM, Jones DM, Röling WFM, Hallmann C, Larter SR, Bowler BFJ, Head IM. Anaerobic biodegradation of crude oil under sulphate-reducing conditions leads to only modest enrichment of recognized sulphate-reducing taxa. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 2013, 81, 105-113.
  • Gray ND, Sherry A, Grant RJ, Rowan AK, Hubert CRJ, Callbeck CM, Aitken CM, Jones DM, Adams JJ, Larter SR, Head IM. The quantitative significance of Syntrophaceae and syntrophic partnerships in methanogenic degradation of crude oil alkanes. Environmental Microbiology 2011, 13(11), 2957-2975.
  • Craig OE, Steele VJ, Fischer A, Hartz S, Andersen SH, Donohoe P, Glykou A, Saul H, Jones DM, Koch E, Heron CP. Ancient lipids reveal continuity in culinary practices across the transition to agriculture in Northern Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2011, 108(44), 17910-17915.
  • Fialips CI, Cooper NGA, Jones DM, White ML, Gray ND. Reductive Degradation of p,p'-DDT by Fe(II) in Nontronite NAu-2. Clays and Clay Minerals 2010, 58(6), 821-836.
  • Samuel OJ, Kildahl-Andersen G, Nytoft H-P, Johansen JE, Jones M. Novel tricyclic and tetracyclic terpanes in Tertiary deltaic oils: Structural identification, origin and application to petroleum correlation. Organic Geochemistry 2010, 41(12), 1326-1337.
  • Hale SE, Meynet P, Davenport RJ, Jones DM, Werner D. Changes in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon availability in River Tyne sediment following bioremediation treatments or activated carbon amendment. Water Research 2010, 44(15), 4529-4536.
  • Nytoft H-P, Samuel OJ, Kildahl-Andersen G, Johansen JE, Jones M. Novel C₁₅ sesquiterpanes in Niger Delta oils: Structural identification and potential application as new markers of angiosperm input in light oils. Organic Geochemistry 2009, 40(5), 595-603.
  • Samuel OJ, Cornford C, Jones M, Adekeye OA, Akande SO. Improved understanding of the petroleum systems of the Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. Organic Geochemistry 2009, 40(4), 461-483.
  • Leach C, Wagner T, Jones M, Juggins S, Stevenson AC. Rapid determination of total organic carbon concentration in marine sediments using Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS). Organic Geochemistry 2008, 39(8), 910-914.
  • Pholchan P, Jones M, Donnelly T, Sallis PJ. Fate of Estrogens during the Biological Treatment of Synthetic Wastewater in a Nitrite-Accumulating Sequencing Batch Reactor. Environmental Science and Technology 2008, 42(16), 6141-6147.
  • Jones DM, Head IM, Gray ND, Adams JJ, Rowan AK, Aitken CM, Bennett B, Huang H, Brown A, Bowler BFJ, Oldenburg T, Erdmann M, Larter SR. Crude-oil biodegradation via methanogenesis in subsurface petroleum reservoirs. Nature 2008, 451(7175), 176-180.
  • Bennett B, Aitken CM, Jones DM, Farrimond P, Larter SR. The occurrence and significance of 25-norhopanoic acids in petroleum reservoirs. Organic Geochemistry 2007, 38(11), 1977-1985.
  • Booth AM, Aitken CM, Jones DM, Lewis CA, Rowland SJ. Resistance of toxic alkylcyclohexyltetralins to biodegradation by aerobic bacteria. Organic Geochemistry 2007, 38(4), 540-550.
  • Larter SR, Huang H, Adams J, Bennett B, Jokanola O, Oldenburg T, Jones DM, Head I, Riediger C, Fowler M. The controls on the composition of biodegraded oils in the deep subsurface: Part II - Geological controls on subsurface biodegradation fluxes and constraints on reservoir-fluid property prediction. AAPG Bulletin 2006, 90(6), 921-938.
  • Blyth AJ, Farrimond P, Jones M. An optimised method for the extraction and analysis of lipid biomarkers from stalagmites. Organic Geochemistry 2006, 37(8), 882-890.
  • Roling WFM, Milner MG, Jones DM, Fratepietro F, Swannell RPJ, Daniel F, Head IM. Bacterial community dynamics and hydrocarbon degradation during a field-scale evaluation of bioremediation on a mudflat beach contaminated with buried oil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2004, 70(5), 2603-2613.
  • Aitken CM, Jones DM, Larter SR. Anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation in deep subsurface oil reservoirs. Nature 2004, 431(7006), 291-294.
  • Roling WFM, Milner MG, Jones DM, Lee K, Daniel F, Swannell RJP, Head IM. Robust hydrocarbon degradation and dynamics of bacterial communities during nutrient-enhanced oil spill bioremediation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2002, 68(11), 5537-5548.
  • Watson JS, Jones DM, Swannell RPJ, Van Duin ACT. Formation of carboxylic acids during aerobic biodegradation of crude oil and evidence of microbial oxidation of hopanes. Organic Geochemistry 2002, 33(10), 1153-1169.
  • Taylor P, Bennett B, Jones DM, Larter SR. The effect of biodegradation and water washing on the occurrence of alkylphenols in crude oils. Organic Geochemistry 2001, 32(2), 341-358.
  • Jones DM, Watson JS, Meredith W, Chen M, Bennett B. Determination of naphthenic acids in crude oils using nonaqueous ion exchange solid-phase. Analytical Chemistry 2001, 73(3), 703-707.
  • Taylor LT, Jones DM. Bioremediation of coal tar PAH in soils using biodiesel. Chemosphere 2001, 44(5), 1131-1136.
  • Jones DM, Macleod G. Molecular analysis of petroleum in fluid inclusions: A practical methodology. Organic Geochemistry 2000, 31(11), 1163-1173.
  • Meredith W, Kelland S-J, Jones DM. Influence of biodegradation on crude oil acidity and carboxylic acid composition. Organic Geochemistry 2000, 31(11), 1059-1073.
  • Lye CM, Frid CLJ, Gill ME, Cooper DW, Jones DM. Estrogenic alkylphenols in fish tissues, sediments, and waters from the U.K. Tyne and Tees estuaries. Environmental Science and Technology 1999, 33(7), 1009-1014.
  • Swannell RPJ, Mitchell D, Lethbridge G, Jones DM, Heath D, Hagley M, Jones M, Petch S, Milne R, Croxford R, Lee K. A field demonstration of the efficacy of bioremediation to treat oiled shorelines following the Sea Empress incident. Environmental Technology 1999, 20(8), 863-873.
  • Taylor P, Larter SR, Jones M, Dale J, Horstad I. The effect of oil-water-rock partitioning on the occurrence of alkylphenols in petroleum systems. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 1997, 61(9), 1899-1910.
  • Li M, Larter SR, Bowler B, Taylor PN, Jones DM, Bjoroy M. Biomarkers or not biomarkers? A new hypothesis for the origin of pristane involving derivation from methyltrimethyltridecylchromans (MTTCs) formed during diagenesis from chlorophyll and alkyl phenols. Organic Geochemistry 1995, 23(2), 159-167.
  • Skjevrak I, Larter SR, van Graas G, Jones DM, Berge E. A practical approach to quantitative group type analysis of kerogens using non-dedicated pyrolysis-mass spectrometry equipment: applications and comparison with other methods. Organic Geochemistry 1994, 22(3-5), 873-883.
  • Moers MEC, Jones DM, Eakin PA, Fallick AE, Griffiths H, Larter SR. Carbohydrate diagenesis in hypersaline environments: application of GC-IRMS to the stable isotope analysis of derivatized saccharides from surficial and buried sediments. Organic Geochemistry 1993, 20(7), 927-933.
  • Rieley G, Collier RJ, Jones DM, Eglinton G. The biogeochemistry of Ellesmere lake, U.K. - I: source correlation of leaf wax inputs to the sedimentary lipid record. Organic Geochemistry 1991, 17(6), 901-912.
  • Rieley G, Collier RJ, Jones DM, Eglinton G, Eakin PA, Fallick AE. Sources of sedimentary lipids deduced from stable carbon isotope analyses of individual compounds. Nature 1991, 352(6334), 425-427.
  • Jones DM, Carter J, Eglinton G, Jumeau J, Fenwick CS. Determination of delta 13C values of sedimentary straight-chain and cyclic alcohols by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Biological Mass Spectrometry 1991, 20(10), 641-646.
  • Farr KM, Jones DM, O'Sullivan PE, Eglinton G, Tarling DH, Hedges REM. Paleolimnological studies of laminated sediments from the Shropshire-Cheshire meres. Hydrobiologia 1990, 214(1), 279-292.
  • Jones DM, Douglas AG, Connan J. Hydrous pyrolysis of asphaltenes and polar fractions of biodegraded oils. Organic Geochemistry 1988, 13(4-6), 981-993.
  • Jones DM, Douglas AG, Connan J. Hydrocarbon distributions in crude oil asphaltene pyrolyzates 1. Aliphatic compounds. Energy & Fuels 1987, 1(6), 468-476.
  • Jones DM, Rowland SJ, Douglas AG. Steranes as indicators of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine surface sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 1986, 17(1), 24-27.
  • Rowland SJ, Alexander R, Kagi RI, Jones DM, Douglas AG. Microbial degradation of aromatic components of crude oils: a comparison of laboratory and field observations. Organic Geochemistry 1986, 9(4), 153-161.
  • Jones DM, Rowland SJ, Douglas AG, Howells S. An examination of the fate of nigerian crude oil in surface sediments of the humber estuary by gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 1986, 24(3), 227-247.
  • Jones DM, Douglas AG, Parkes RJ, Taylor J, Giger W, Schaffner C. The recognition of biodegraded petroleum derived aromatic hydrocarbons in recent marine sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 1983, 14(3), 103-108.

• Book Chapters

  • Head IM, Larter SR, Gray ND, Sherry A, Adams JJ, Aitken CM, Jones DM, Rowan AK, Huang H, Röling WFM. Hydrocarbon Degradation in Petroleum Reservoirs. In: Timmis, K.N. ed. in chief, McGenity, T., van der Meer, J.R., de Lorenzo, V, ed. Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer, 2010, pp.3097-3109 (chapter 54).
  • Singh AK, Sherry A, Gray ND, Jones MD, Roeling WFM, Head IM. How Specific Microbial Communities Benefit the Oil Industry: Dynamics of Alcanivorax spp. in Oil Contaminated Intertidal Beach Sediments Undergoing Bioremediation. In: Whitby, C; Skovhus TL, ed. Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology in Oilfield Systems: Proceedings from the International Symposium on Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology in Oil Systems 2009. United Kingdom: Springer, 2009, pp.199-210.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Pedentchouk N, Wagner T, Jones DM, Pellegrini M, Brugnoli E, Lauteri M, Pollegioni P, Behling H. Comparison of delta C-13 and delta D values of n-alkanes from angiosperms and gymnosperms in Western Europe. In: 17th Annual VM Goldschmidt Conference. 2007, Cologne, Germany: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Pergamon.
  • Bennett B, Aitken CM, Jones DM, Larter SR. Indicators of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum reservoirs. In: 15th Annual VM Goldschmidt Conference. 2005, Moscow, ID: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Pergamon.
  • Larter SR, Head IM, Huang H, Bennett B, Jones M, Aplin AC, Murray A, Erdmann M, Wilhelms A, Di primio R. Biodegradation, gas destruction and methane generation in deep subsurface petroleum reservoirs. In: Petroleum Geology: North-West Europe and Global Perspectives: Proceedings of 6th Geology Conference. 2005, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London: The Geological Society: London.
  • Jones DM, Meredith W, Kelland SJ, Mosca F, Utech NM, Stankiewicz BA. Geochemical controls on acidity in crude oils. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 2000.
  • Watson JS, Jones DM, Swannell RPJ. Formation of carboxylic acids during biodegradation of crude oil. In: In Situ Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon and other organic compounds.: ifth International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium. 1999, San Diego, California: Battelle Press, Columbus, Ohio. USA.
  • Watson JS, Jones DM, Swannell RPJ. Formation of carboxylic acids during biodegradation of crude oil. In: 5th International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium. 1999, San Diego, California, USA: Battelle Press.
  • Scotchman IC, Griffith CE, Holmes AJ, Jones DM. The Jurassic petroleum system north and west of Britain: A geochemical oil-source correlation study. In: 18th International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry. 1997, Maastricht, The Netherlands: Organic Geochemistry: Pergamon.

• Reviews

  • Samuel O, Jones DM, Cornford C. Intra-Delta versus Sub-Delta Sourcing of Petroleum - a Global Review. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Search and Discovery 2007, #40243, 1-7.
  • Head IM, Jones DM, Roling WFM. Marine microorganisms make a meal of oil. Nature Reviews: Microbiology 2006, 4(3), 173-182.
  • Head IM, Jones DM, Larter SR. Biological activity in the deep subsurface and the origin of heavy oil. Nature 2003, 426(6964), 344-352.