Methane oxidation in simulated landfill cover soil environments

Citation
A. De Visscher et al., Methane oxidation in simulated landfill cover soil environments, ENV SCI TEC, 33(11), 1999, pp. 1854-1859
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology,"Environmental Engineering & Energy
Journal title
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISSN journal
0013936X → ACNP
Volume
33
Issue
11
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1854 - 1859
Database
ISI
SICI code
0013-936X(19990601)33:11<1854:MOISLC>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
A considerable fraction of the methane that is produced by landfills is oxi dized by its covering soil before it can reach the atmosphere. This process was studied in soil columns that simulate landfill cover soil environments . The methane uptake was followed as a function of time. In soils of agricu ltural origin, a maximum value of 10.7 mot m(column)(-2) d(-1) was observed . Mixing sugar beet leaves with the soil led to a temporary stimulation of the methane oxidation rate, whereas a wheat straw amendment led to permanen t stimulation. Soil originating from a real landfill cover oxidized on the order of 15 mol m(column)(-2) d(-1), the highest value found in the literat ure to date. The soil gas composition was studied as a function of depth. W ith a new hatch incubation technique, methane oxidation kinetics were deter mined in samples taken from the soil column. By combining this kinetic data with the soil gas composition data, the actively methane oxidizing zone in the soil column could be determined and an in situ assessment of oxygen li mitation could be performed. Methane oxidation takes place mainly in the Po p 30 cm of the covering soil.