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  4. Characterization and Manipulation of Microbiomes From Arid Landfills for Improved Methane Production
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Characterization and Manipulation of Microbiomes From Arid Landfills for Improved Methane Production

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Description

Environmentally harmful byproducts from solid waste’s decomposition, including methane (CH4) emissions, are managed through standardized landfill engineering and gas-capture mechanisms. Yet only a limited number of studies have analyzed the development and composition of Bacteria and Archaea involved in CH4 production from landfills. The objectives of this research were to compare microbiomes and bioactivity from CH4-producing communities in contrasting spatial areas of arid landfills and to tests a new technology to biostimulate CH4 production (methanogenesis) from solid waste under dynamic environmental conditions controlled in the laboratory. My hypothesis was that the diversity and abundance of methanogenic Archaea in municipal solid waste (MSW), or its leachate, play an important role on CH4 production partially attributed to the group’s wide hydrogen (H2) consumption capabilities. I tested this hypothesis by conducting complementary field observations and laboratory experiments. I describe niches of methanogenic Archaea in MSW leachate across defined areas within a single landfill, while demonstrating functional H2-dependent activity. To alleviate limited H2 bioavailability encountered in-situ, I present biostimulant feasibility and proof-of-concepts studies through the amendment of zero valent metals (ZVMs). My results demonstrate that older-aged MSW was minimally biostimulated for greater CH4 production relative to a control when exposed to iron (Fe0) or manganese (Mn0), due to highly discernable traits of soluble carbon, nitrogen, and unidentified fluorophores found in water extracts between young and old aged, starting MSW. Acetate and inhibitory H2 partial pressures accumulated in microcosms containing old-aged MSW. In a final experiment, repeated amendments of ZVMs to MSW in a 600 day mesocosm experiment mediated significantly higher CH4 concentrations and yields during the first of three ZVM injections. Fe0 and Mn0 experimental treatments at mesocosm-scale also highlighted accelerated development of seemingly important, but elusive Archaea including Methanobacteriaceae, a methane-producing family that is found in diverse environments. Also, prokaryotic classes including Candidatus Bathyarchaeota, an uncultured group commonly found in carbon-rich ecosystems, and Clostridia; All three taxa I identified as highly predictive in the time-dependent progression of MSW decomposition. Altogether, my experiments demonstrate the importance of H2 bioavailability on CH4 production and the consistent development of Methanobacteriaceae in productive MSW microbiomes.

Date Created
2022
Contributors
  • Reynolds, Mark Christian (Author)
  • Cadillo-Quiroz, Hinsby (Thesis advisor)
  • Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa (Thesis advisor)
  • Wang, Xuan (Committee member)
  • Kavazanjian, Edward (Committee member)
  • Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
  • Microbiology
  • Biology
  • Environmental science
  • Geochemistry
  • landfill
  • Leachate
  • Methane
  • Microbiome
  • waste
Resource Type
Text
Genre
Doctoral Dissertation
Academic theses
Extent
287 pages
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Reuse Permissions
All Rights Reserved
Primary Member of
ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.171930
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
asu1
Note
Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2022
Field of study: Microbiology
System Created
  • 2022-12-20 06:19:18
System Modified
  • 2022-12-20 06:19:18
  •     
  • 5 months 2 weeks ago
Additional Formats
  • OAI Dublin Core
  • MODS XML

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