The microbial oxidation of methane in the atmosphere is performed by methanotrophic bacteria that use methane as a unique source of carbon and energy. The objective of this work consisted of the investigation of the best conditions of methane biodegradation by methanotrophic bacteria Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b that oxidize it to carbon dioxide, and the use of these microorganisms in monito...

This study evaluated the possibility of pretreating selected solid fraction of an anaerobic digester treating food waste to lower the hydraulic retention time and increase the methane production. The study investigated the effect of different pretreatments (thermal, chemical, thermochemical and enzymatic) for enhanced methane production from cottage cheese. The most effective pretreatments were...

A Raman spectrometer extensively modified for deep ocean use was used to measure synthetic hydrates formed in an ocean environment. This was the first time hydrates formed in the ocean have been measured in situ using Raman spectroscopy. Gas hydrates were formed in situ in the Monterey Bay by pressurizing a Pyrex cell with various gas mixtures. Raman spectra were obtained for sI methane hydrate...

Methane gas is a by-product of landfilling municipal solid wastes (MSW). Most of the global MSW is dumped in non-regulated landfills and the generated methane is emitted to the atmosphere. Some of the modern regulated landfills attempt to capture and utilize landfill biogas, a renewable energy source, to generate electricity or heat. As of 2001, there were about one thousand landfills collectin...

The relationship between biogeochemical process rates and microbial functional activity was investigated by analysis of the transcriptional dynamics of the key functional genes for methanogenesis (methyl coenzyme M reductase; mcrA) and methane oxidation (particulate methane monooxygenase; pmoA) and in situ methane flux at two peat soil field sites with contrasting net methane-emitting and -oxid...

Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), with nearly 60% of emissions derived from anthropogenic sources. Microbial conversion of methane to fuels and value-added chemicals offers a means to reduce GHG emissions, while also valorizing this otherwise squandered high-volume, high-energy gas. However, to date, advances in methane biocatalysis have been constrained by the low-produ...

VOCs comprise both methane (CH 4) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). NMVOCs are defined as " all those artificial organic compounds different from methane which can produce photochemical oxidants by reaction with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight " .

Livestock are one of the largest single sources of methane emissions, which is a greenhouse gas. In this study, alfalfa meal was tested as a feed additive to lower the methane generation in the three species of waterfowl. Four experiments were conducted to determine methane generation in the intestines of Muscovy ducks, mule ducks and White Roman geese of the same age and with the same diet. In...

The existence of methane in the martian atmosphere may be an indicator of subsurface life. Biological processes are known to fractionate the common isotopologues of methane, and hence measuring these isotopic ratios may yield constraints on the nature of the methane source. Any measurement of the isotopic ratios of atmospheric methane must consider the additional fractionation due to photochemi...

The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over rhodium sponge has been investigated by admitting pulses of pure methane and pure oxygen as well as mixtures of methane and oxygen to rhodium sponge at temperatures from 873 to 1023 K. Moreover, pulses of oxygen followed by methane and vice versa as well as pulses of mixtures of methane and labelled oxygen were applied to study the role of ...