Methane in Lake Erie: analysis of mechanisms of production and of amounts produced

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6256983

Frea, J I; Ward, T E; Mallard, G E

Microbial methanogenesis in the sediment and water column of the Western and Central Basins of Lake Erie was studied. Year to year methane production varies, but relative methanogenesis by geographical location is constant with near shore and harbors having highest production. The Western Basin generally supports more methane production than the Central Basin. Four species of methanogenic bacteria, Methanobacterium ruminantium, Methanobacterium strain M.Q.H., Methanospirillium hungatii, and Methanosarcina barkerii, were shown by the direct fluorescent antibody technique to be distributed in specific locations in the Lake and its harbors. Laboratory study of these same methanogenic species showed that they produce an average of 1.2 umoles of methane per hour per 10 to the 8th power cells. Methane accumulation does not inhibit methane production; hydrogen depletion terminates production.

• Research Organization: Ohio State Univ., Columbus (USA). Dept. of Microbiology
• OSTI ID: 6256983
• Report Number(s): PB-277981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BUILDUP
CARBON CYCLE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUATIONS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GREAT LAKES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAKE ERIE
LAKES
MASS TRANSFER
METHANE
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION SOURCES
QUANTITY RATIO
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STATIONARY POLLUTANT SOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
WATER