Quantifying Microbial Methane Oxidation Efficiencies in Two Experimental Landfill Biocovers Using Stable Isotopes

摘要

Stable isotope analyses were performed on gas samples collected within two instrumented biocovers, with the goal of evaluating CH_4 oxidation efficiencies (f_0). In each of the biocovers, gas probes were installed at four locations and at several depths. One of the biocovers was fed with biogas directly from the waste mass, whereas the other was fed through a gas distribution system that allowed monitoring of biogas fluxes. While the f_0 values obtained at a depth of 0.1 m were low (between 0.0% and 25.2%) for profiles with poor aeration, they were high for profiles with better aeration, reaching 89.7%.rnSeveral interrelated factors affecting aeration seem to be influencing f_0, including the degree of water saturation, the magnitude of the biogas flux and the temperature within the substrate. Low f_0 values do not mean necessarily that little CH_4 was oxidized. In fact, in certain cases where the CH_4 loading was high, the absolute amount of CH_4 oxidized was quite high and comparable to the rate of CH_4 oxidation for cases with low CH_4 loading and high f_0. For the experimental biocover for which the CH_4 loading was known, the oxidation efficiency obtained using stable isotopes (f_0=55.67% for samples taken inside flux chambers) was compared to the value obtained by mass balance (f_0=70.0%). Several factors can explain this discrepancy, including the high sensitivity of f_0 to slight changes in the isotopic fractionation factor for bacterial oxidation, α_(ox), uncertainties related to mass flow metre readings and to the static chamber method.