Unraveling the link between microbial consumption and production of greenhouse gases in landfills
Abstract
Municipal solid waste landfills are a significant source of anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions due to microbes oxidizing ammonia while simultaneously oxidizing methane in intermediate cover soils. The abundance and activity of microbial guilds was assessed by collection of twelve soil samples at a landfill. All samples had their DNA extracted and analyzed and were also investigated in a laboratory using a PAS for nitrous oxide production while methane consumption was measured using GC-TCD. The experiment indicated that there is a potential link between the two greenhouse gases but more research on this topic is urged.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Matthew.Scarborough@uvm.edu
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Program/Major
Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Category
Engineering & Physical Sciences
Unraveling the link between microbial consumption and production of greenhouse gases in landfills
Municipal solid waste landfills are a significant source of anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions due to microbes oxidizing ammonia while simultaneously oxidizing methane in intermediate cover soils. The abundance and activity of microbial guilds was assessed by collection of twelve soil samples at a landfill. All samples had their DNA extracted and analyzed and were also investigated in a laboratory using a PAS for nitrous oxide production while methane consumption was measured using GC-TCD. The experiment indicated that there is a potential link between the two greenhouse gases but more research on this topic is urged.