Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
08:18
Design and Use of a Full Flow Sampling System (FFS) for the Quantification of Methane Emissions
Published on: June 12, 2016
Field-scale operation of methane biofiltration systems to mitigate point source methane emissions
Vijayamala C Hettiarachchi1, Patrick J Hettiaratchi, Anil K Mehrotra
1Centre for Environmental Engineering Research and Education (CEERE), Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|March 19, 2011
Summary
Methane biofiltration effectively reduces methane emissions using bacteria. This low-cost method achieved over 80% methane oxidation in field tests, showing promise for environmental applications.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Methane biofiltration (MBF) offers a low-cost solution for reducing low-volume methane (CH₄) point source emissions.
- Methanotrophic bacteria in granular media convert CH₄ to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of MBF for treating engineered CH₄ emissions at a natural gas monitoring station.
- To develop and validate a comprehensive numerical model for predicting MBF performance.
Main Methods:
- Field research involving a full-scale MBF system with long-term monitoring.
- Development of a 3D numerical model simulating gas flow, biological reactions, and heat/moisture transfer.
- Utilizing a 1D model version for MBF design and operational guidance.
Main Results:
- The field MBF achieved over 80% CH₄ oxidation during spring, summer, and fall without environmental controls.
- The numerical model accurately predicted the MBF's CH₄ oxidation behavior.
- Simulations explored CH₄ oxidation under varied conditions, including filter depth and CH₄ flux rates.
Conclusions:
- MBF is a viable technology for mitigating low-volume CH₄ emissions.
- Long-term MBF performance is significantly influenced by environmental factors like temperature and precipitation.
- The developed numerical model is a valuable tool for optimizing MBF design and operation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Scale-Up Processes
The scale-up of microbial fermentation processes is essential in industrial biotechnology, allowing the transition from laboratory-scale experiments to commercial-scale production while aiming to maintain product yield and quality. This process requires meticulous adjustment of equipment design, process parameters, and contamination control strategies to accommodate increasing culture volumes.At the laboratory scale, cultures are typically maintained in 1 to 10-liter glass or autoclavable...
01:30Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
01:26Microbes and Methanogenesis
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
01:29Bioreactor Design and Operational System
Bioreactors are engineered vessels designed to cultivate microorganisms under controlled conditions for industrial bioprocessing. They maintain sterility and allow precise regulation of pH, temperature, oxygen, and nutrient levels to optimize microbial growth and metabolite production. Bioreactors range from small laboratory units of 1 liter to industrial systems holding up to 500,000 liters, though only about 75% of their volume is actively used for fermentation. The remaining headspace...
01:23Microbial Fuel Cells
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical devices that generate electricity by exploiting the metabolic processes of electrogenic bacteria. These systems provide a renewable energy source and serve as an innovative method for treating organic waste, such as wastewater.A typical MFC consists of two chambers: an anoxic (oxygen-free) compartment that houses the bacteria and an oxic (oxygen-rich) compartment that contains oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Many MFCs use proton...