Study on the Correlation between Dissolved Organic Carbon, Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate, and Exchangeable Nitrogen and the Performance of Granular Materials as Support Media for Methanotrophic Biofiltration

Anaerobic decomposition of organic materials in landfills is a key source of anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions into the atmosphere. The use of methane biofilter (MB) technology for biological oxidation of CH4 into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water is an emerging area of interest for researchers and practicing engineers. Studies were undertaken to assess the influence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), and exchangeable nitrogen (N-ex) on different materials used as filter media in MBs. The obtained results showed that these parameters are strongly correlated with the CH 4 oxidation potential observed for different porous materials. Low DOC, SOUR, and N-ex values [318 parts per million (ppm), 168 ppm, and 228 mg O-2 / kg volatile solids/h, respectively] were associated with the highest methanotrophic activity rate observed in this study (3.6596 mu mol CH4 /gVS/d). (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.