Extreme gas production in anthropogenic fibrous sediments: An overlooked biogenic source of greenhouse gas emissions

Fibrous sediments that originated from old pulp and paper industry emissions are recognized as a potential threat to the aquatic environment because they highly contaminated. In addition, biogenic degradation of organic material so-called “fiberbanks” has high produce greenhouse gases (GHG). this study, X-ray tomography, optical sensors gas analyzers were used identify quantify produced released samples two different fiberbanks. We show finer fibrous structure allows formation larger bubbles higher production rates compared coarser composed wood pieces. High contents methane (average 56% 65%) carbon dioxide 18% 20%) measured in emitted both types fiberbank. Measured fiberbanks one three orders magnitude than previously reported within studied temperature range (between 0.03 0.51 μm CH4/h/g dw over 4.7 20 °C). The for fiberbank volume likely present Sweden is estimated correspond 7% Sweden's total known GHG 2019. These findings have be significant emitter GHG.