Anaerobic methane oxidation is quantitatively important in deeper peat layers of boreal peatlands: Evidence from anaerobic incubations, in situ stable isotopes depth profiles, and microbial communities.

Boreal peatlands store most of their carbon in layers deeper than 0.5 m under anaerobic conditions, where carbon dioxide and methane are produced as terminal products of organic matter degradation. Since the global warming potential of methane is much greater than that of carbon dioxide, the balance between the production rates of these gases is important for future climate predictions. Herein, we aimed to understand whether anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) could explain the high CO2/CH4 anaerobic production ratios that are widely observed for the deeper peat layers of boreal peatlands. Furthermore, we quantified the metabolic pathways of methanogenesis to examine whether hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is a dominant methane production pathway for the presumably recalcitrant deeper peat. To assess the CH4 cycling in deeper peat, we combined laboratory anaerobic incubations with a pathway-specific inhibitor, in situ depth patterns of stable isotopes in CH4, and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for three representative boreal peatlands in Western Siberia. We found up to a 69 % reduction in CH4 production due to AMO, which largely explained the high CO2/CH4 anaerobic production ratios and the in situ depth-related patterns of δ13C and δD in methane. The absence of acetate accumulation after inhibiting acetotrophic methanogenesis and the presence of sulfate- and nitrate-reducing anaerobic acetate oxidizers in the deeper peat indicated that these microorganisms use SO42- and NO3- as electron acceptors. Acetotrophic methanogenesis dominated net CH4 production in the deeper peat, accounting for 81 ± 13 %. Overall, anaerobic oxidation is quantitatively important for the methane cycle in the deeper layers of boreal peatlands, affecting both methane and its main precursor concentrations.

Methanogenic Community, CH4 Production Potential and Its Determinants in the Active Layer and Permafrost Deposits on the Tibetan Plateau.

Permafrost thaw could increase methane (CH4) emissions, which largely depends on CH4 production driven by methanogenic archaea. However, large-scale evidence regarding key methanogenic taxa and their relative importance to abiotic factors in mediating methanogenesis remains limited. Here, we explored the methanogenic community, potential CH4 production and its determinants in the active layer and permafrost deposits based on soil samples acquired from 12 swamp meadow sites along a ∼1000 km permafrost transect on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results revealed lower CH4 production potential, mcrA gene abundance, and richness in the permafrost layer than those in the active layer. CH4 production potential in both soil layers was regulated by microbial and abiotic factors. Of the microbial properties, marker OTUs, rather than the abundance and diversity of methanogens, stimulated CH4 production potential. Marker OTUs differed between the two soil layers with hydrogenotrophic Methanocellales and facultative acetoclastic Methanosarcina predominant in regulating CH4 production potential in the permafrost and active layer, respectively. Besides microbial drivers, CH4 production potential increased with the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in both soil layers and was also stimulated by soil moisture in the permafrost layer. These results provide empirical evidence for model improvements to better predict permafrost carbon feedback to climate warming.

Persistence times of refractory materials in landfills: A review of rate limiting conditions by mass transfer and reaction kinetics.

Monitoring programs at closed landfills show that transformation of plastics, wood, and metals continue long after the active decomposition of the waste fractions are considered as complete. Studies conducted in natural anaerobic environments (e.g., marine sediments and rocks) provide insight for slow degradation mechanisms involving coupling of thermodynamically favorable and unfavorable reactions and biochemical transformations by microbial consortia. These transformations occur at much slower rates through more complex and less obvious mechanisms and are not evident until after the primary decomposition mechanisms become less significant. This study presents a review of the conditions that limit the mass transfer and reaction kinetics for anaerobic transformations in landfills and provides new insights for reaction mechanisms (e.g., anaerobic oxidation and anaerobic corrosion) that occur at relatively slow rates in mature landfills. Conditions and mechanisms of slow transformations by microbial and chemical activities with relatively small energy yields and availability of electron acceptors (e.g., inorganics, plastics) and/or diffusion of gas and moisture into the previously isolated areas in waste deposits were discussed. Time scales for mass transfer and reaction kinetics were compared under anaerobic conditions for different waste components deposited at municipal solid waste landfills. Half-lives of different materials under anaerobic conditions were estimated and compared. Emergence of syntrophic methanogenic communities and conditions for triboelectric effects were evaluated as possible electron transfer mechanisms between waste layers for occurrence of extremely slow transformations of wastes deposited in landfills.

Cellulase activity and dissolved organic carbon release from lignocellulose macrophyte-derived in four trophic conditions

Abstract Considering the importance of lignocellulose macrophyte-derived for the energy flux in aquatic ecosystems and the nutrient concentrations as a function of force which influences the decomposition process, this study aims to relate the enzymatic activity and lignocellulose hydrolysis in different trophic statuses. Water samples and two macrophyte species were collected from the littoral zone of a subtropical Brazilian Reservoir. A lignocellulosic matrix was obtained using aqueous extraction of dried plant material (≈40 °C). Incubations for decomposition of the lignocellulosic matrix were prepared using lignocelluloses, inoculums and filtered water simulating different trophic statuses with the same N:P ratio. The particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC, respectively) were quantified, the cellulase enzymatic activity was measured by releasing reducing sugars and immobilized carbon was analyzed by filtration. During the cellulose degradation indicated by the cellulase activity, the dissolved organic carbon daily rate and enzyme activity increased. It was related to a fast hydrolysable fraction of cellulose that contributed to short-term carbon immobilization (ca. 10 days). After approximately 20 days, the dissolved organic carbon and enzyme activity were inversely correlated suggesting that the respiration of microorganisms was responsible for carbon mineralization. Cellulose was an important resource in low nutrient conditions (oligotrophic). However, the detritus quality played a major role in the lignocelluloses degradation (i.e., enzyme activity) and carbon release.

Decomposition and carbon storage of hardwood and softwood branches in laboratory-scale landfills.

Tree branches are an important component of yard waste disposed in U.S. municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The objective of this study was to characterize the anaerobic biodegradability of hardwood (HW) and softwood (SW) branches under simulated but optimized landfill conditions by measuring methane (CH4) yields, decay rates, the decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose and organic carbon, as well as carbon storage factors (CSFs). Carbon conversions to CH4 and CO2 ranged from zero to 9.5% for SWs and 17.1 to 28.5% for HWs. When lipophilic or hydrophilic compounds present in some of the HW and SW samples were extracted, some samples showed increased biochemical methane potentials (BMPs). The average CH4 yield, carbon conversion, and CSF measured here, 59.4mLCH4g(-1) dry material, 13.9%, and 0.39gcarbonstoredg(-1) dry material, respectively, represent reasonable values for use in greenhouse gas inventories in the absence of detailed wood type/species data for landfilled yard waste.

Cellulase activity and dissolved organic carbon release from lignocellulose macrophyte-derived in four trophic conditions.

Considering the importance of lignocellulose macrophyte-derived for the energy flux in aquatic ecosystems and the nutrient concentrations as a function of force which influences the decomposition process, this study aims to relate the enzymatic activity and lignocellulose hydrolysis in different trophic statuses. Water samples and two macrophyte species were collected from the littoral zone of a subtropical Brazilian Reservoir. A lignocellulosic matrix was obtained using aqueous extraction of dried plant material (≈40°C). Incubations for decomposition of the lignocellulosic matrix were prepared using lignocelluloses, inoculums and filtered water simulating different trophic statuses with the same N:P ratio. The particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC, respectively) were quantified, the cellulase enzymatic activity was measured by releasing reducing sugars and immobilized carbon was analyzed by filtration. During the cellulose degradation indicated by the cellulase activity, the dissolved organic carbon daily rate and enzyme activity increased. It was related to a fast hydrolysable fraction of cellulose that contributed to short-term carbon immobilization (ca. 10 days). After approximately 20 days, the dissolved organic carbon and enzyme activity were inversely correlated suggesting that the respiration of microorganisms was responsible for carbon mineralization. Cellulose was an important resource in low nutrient conditions (oligotrophic). However, the detritus quality played a major role in the lignocelluloses degradation (i.e., enzyme activity) and carbon release.

Decomposition and carbon storage of selected paper products in laboratory-scale landfills.

The objective of this study was to measure the anaerobic biodegradation of different types of paper products in laboratory-scale landfill reactors. The study included (a) measurement of the loss of cellulose, hemicellulose, organic carbon, and (b) measurement of the methane yields for each paper product. The test materials included two samples each of newsprint (NP), copy paper (CP), and magazine paper (MG), and one sample of diaper (DP). The methane yields, carbon storage factors and the extent of cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition all consistently show that papers made from mechanical pulps (e.g., NPs) are less degradable than those made from chemical pulps where essentially all lignin was chemically removed (e.g., CPs). The diaper, which is not only made from chemical pulp but also contains some gel and plastic, exhibited limited biodegradability. The extent of biogenic carbon conversion varied from 21 to 96% among papers, which contrasts with the uniform assumption of 50% by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for all degradable materials discarded in landfills. Biochemical methane potential tests also showed that the solids to liquid ratio used in the test can influence the results.

Differences in volatile methyl siloxane (VMS) profiles in biogas from landfills and anaerobic digesters and energetics of VMS transformations.

The objectives of this study were to compare the types and levels of volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS) present in biogas generated in the anaerobic digesters and landfills, evaluate the energetics of siloxane transformations under anaerobic conditions, compare the conditions in anaerobic digesters and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills which result in differences in siloxane compositions. Biogas samples were collected at the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant and South Dade Landfill in Miami, Florida. In the digester gas, D4 and D5 comprised the bulk of total siloxanes (62% and 27%, respectively) whereas in the landfill gas, the bulk of siloxanes were trimethylsilanol (TMSOH) (58%) followed by D4 (17%). Presence of high levels of TMSOH in the landfill gas indicates that methane utilization may be a possible reaction mechanism for TMSOH formation. The free energy change for transformation of D5 and D4 to TMSOH either by hydrogen or methane utilization are thermodynamically favorable. Either hydrogen or methane should be present at relatively high concentrations for TMSOH formation which explains the high levels present in the landfill gas. The high bond energy and bond distance of the Si-O bond, in view of the atomic sizes of Si and O atoms, indicate that Si atoms can provide a barrier, making it difficult to break the Si-O bonds especially for molecules with specific geometric configurations such as D4 and D5 where oxygen atoms are positioned inside the frame formed by the large Si atoms which are surrounded by the methyl groups.

Metagenomes of tropical soil-derived anaerobic switchgrass-adapted consortia with and without iron.

Tropical forest soils decompose litter rapidly with frequent episodes of anoxia, making it likely that bacteria using alternate terminal electron acceptors (TEAs) such as iron play a large role in supporting decomposition under these conditions. The prevalence of many types of metabolism in litter deconstruction makes these soils useful templates for improving biofuel production. To investigate how iron availability affects decomposition, we cultivated feedstock-adapted consortia (FACs) derived from iron-rich tropical forest soils accustomed to experiencing frequent episodes of anaerobic conditions and frequently fluctuating redox. One consortium was propagated under fermenting conditions, with switchgrass as the sole carbon source in minimal media (SG only FACs), and the other consortium was treated the same way but received poorly crystalline iron as an additional terminal electron acceptor (SG + Fe FACs). We sequenced the metagenomes of both consortia to a depth of about 150 Mb each, resulting in a coverage of 26× for the more diverse SG + Fe FACs, and 81× for the relatively less diverse SG only FACs. Both consortia were able to quickly grow on switchgrass, and the iron-amended consortium exhibited significantly higher microbial diversity than the unamended consortium. We found evidence of higher stress in the unamended FACs and increased sugar transport and utilization in the iron-amended FACs. This work provides metagenomic evidence that supplementation of alternative TEAs may improve feedstock deconstruction in biofuel production.

Decomposition of forest products buried in landfills.

The objective of this study was to investigate the decomposition of selected wood and paper products in landfills. The decomposition of these products under anaerobic landfill conditions results in the generation of biogenic carbon dioxide and methane, while the un-decomposed portion represents a biogenic carbon sink. Information on the decomposition of these municipal waste components is used to estimate national methane emissions inventories, for attribution of carbon storage credits, and to assess the life-cycle greenhouse gas impacts of wood and paper products. Hardwood (HW), softwood (SW), plywood (PW), oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard (PB), medium-density fiberboard (MDF), newsprint (NP), corrugated container (CC) and copy paper (CP) were buried in landfills operated with leachate recirculation, and were excavated after approximately 1.5 and 2.5yr. Samples were analyzed for cellulose (C), hemicellulose (H), lignin (L), volatile solids (VS), and organic carbon (OC). A holocellulose decomposition index (HOD) and carbon storage factor (CSF) were calculated to evaluate the extent of solids decomposition and carbon storage. Samples of OSB made from HW exhibited cellulose plus hemicellulose (C+H) loss of up to 38%, while loss for the other wood types was 0-10% in most samples. The C+H loss was up to 81%, 95% and 96% for NP, CP and CC, respectively. The CSFs for wood and paper samples ranged from 0.34 to 0.47 and 0.02 to 0.27gOCg(-1) dry material, respectively. These results, in general, correlated well with an earlier laboratory-scale study, though NP and CC decomposition measured in this study were higher than previously reported.

Electron donor capacity of reducing dissolved organic matter from crop residue decomposition as probed by chronoamperometry.

Reducing dissolved organic matters (RDOMs) from the anaerobic decomposition of crop residue can greatly affect the physicochemical and biological properties of soils. Electrochemical methods that can effectively protect them from oxidation and rapidly obtain results, such as differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), have been applied to qualitatively analyzing properties of RDOMs. However, the donated amount of electrons from RDOMs as a capacity factor may be more crucial for evaluating their important roles. For the first time, matured chronoamperometry (CA) was applied to quantitatively determining the electron donor capacities of RDOMs in crop residue management. The electron donor capacities of RDOMs from green manure were much higher than those from rice straw, which indicated that the former had greater effect on the redox status and reactions of soil. Chronoamperometry was proposed as a practical and effective method to quantitatively characterize RDOMs from residue decomposition.

Xylanase and cellulase activities during anaerobic decomposition of three aquatic acrophytes

Enzymatic activity during decomposition is extremely important to hydrolyze molecules that are assimilated by microorganisms. During aquatic macrophytes decomposition, enzymes act mainly in the breakdown of lignocellulolytic matrix fibers (i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) that encompass the refractory fraction from organic matter. Considering the importance of enzymatic activities role in decomposition processes, this study aimed to describe the temporal changes of xylanase and cellulose activities during anaerobic decomposition of Ricciocarpus natans (freely-floating), Oxycaryum cubense (emergent) and Cabomba furcata (submersed). The aquatic macrophytes were collected in Óleo Lagoon, Luiz Antonio, São Paulo, Brazil and bioassays were accomplished. Decomposition chambers from each species (n = 10) were set up with dried macrophyte fragments and filtered Óleo Lagoon water. The chambers were incubated at 22.5ºC, in the dark and under anaerobic conditions. Enzymatic activities and remaining organic matter were measured periodically during 90 days. The temporal variation of enzymes showed that C. furcata presented the highest decay and the highest maximum enzyme production. Xylanase production was higher than cellulase production for the decomposition of the three aquatic macrophytes species.

Xylanase and cellulase activities during anaerobic decomposition of three aquatic macrophytes.

Enzymatic activity during decomposition is extremely important to hydrolyze molecules that are assimilated by microorganisms. During aquatic macrophytes decomposition, enzymes act mainly in the breakdown of lignocellulolytic matrix fibers (i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) that encompass the refractory fraction from organic matter. Considering the importance of enzymatic activities role in decomposition processes, this study aimed to describe the temporal changes of xylanase and cellulose activities during anaerobic decomposition of Ricciocarpus natans (freely-floating), Oxycaryum cubense (emergent) and Cabomba furcata (submersed). The aquatic macrophytes were collected in Óleo Lagoon, Luiz Antonio, São Paulo, Brazil and bioassays were accomplished.  Decomposition chambers from each species (n = 10) were set up with dried macrophyte fragments and filtered Óleo Lagoon water. The chambers were incubated at 22.5°C, in the dark and under anaerobic conditions. Enzymatic activities and remaining organic matter were measured periodically during 90 days. The temporal variation of enzymes showed that C. furcata presented the highest decay and the highest maximum enzyme production. Xylanase production was higher than cellulase production for the decomposition of the three aquatic macrophytes species.

Toxidez por ácido acético em arroz sob diferentes valores de pH da solução nutritiva / Acetic acid toxicity in rice under different pH values of nutritional solution

A proporção das formas associadas e dissociadas do ácido acético é dependente do pH. O aumento do pH favorece a dissociação do ácido acético, o que pode diminuir seu efeito tóxico para o arroz, pois moléculas com carga são menos solúveis nos componentes lipídicos das membranas celulares. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os efeitos do pH da solução nutritiva referentes à toxidez pelo ácido acético em plantas de arroz. O experimento foi conduzido em solução nutritiva, em bancada de laboratório com fornecimento de luz artificial. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em um fatorial 4x2, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, e foram testados os fatores: pH da solução nutritiva (3,7; 4,7; 5,7; 6,7) e ácido acético (testemunha sem ácido e 2,5mmol L-1 de ácido). O incremento nos valores de pH de 3,7 a 6,7 reduziu o efeito tóxico do ácido acético nas plantas de arroz, aumentando o comprimento da raiz em 90 por cento e da parte aérea em 37 por cento. Houve aumento nos teores de N em 22 por cento e diminuição nos teores de Ca em 19 por cento na mesma faixa de pH na presença do ácido acético. Os efeitos tóxicos do ácido acético sobre as plantas de arroz foram atenuados com o aumento do pH de 3,7 para 6,7.

The proportion of forms associated and undissociated acetic acid depends on pH. The increment of pH induced the dissociation of acetic acid that may reduce the toxicity of rice, therefore, molecules with charge are less soluble in lipidics components of cellular membranes. The research objective was to estimate the effect of different pH values in nutritional solution on toxicity of acetic acid on rice. The experiment was conducted in nutritional solution in laboratory with artificial light supplied. The treatments were arranged in factorial 4x2, in completely randomized design, with 3 replications, where the following factors were tested nutritional solution pH (3.7; 4.7; 5.7 and 6.7) and acetic acid (zero and 2.5mmol L-1 of acid). The increment on pH values from 3.7 to 6.7 reduced the toxic effect of acetic acid in rice plants, increasing the radicular system in 90 percent and shoot in 37 percent. It increased the N content in 22 percent and reduction on Ca content in 19 percent in plants in same values of pH on presence of acetic acid. The toxic effect of acetic acid in rice plants were attenuated with pH increment from 3.7 to 6.7.

Changes in the amount of soluble carbohydrates and polyphenols contents during decomposition of Montrichardia arborescens (L) Schott / Variação dos teores de carboidratos e de polifenóis solúveis durante a decomposição de Montrichardia arborescens, (L) Schott

This study describes the aerobic and anaerobic decay of soluble carbohydrates (CH) and polyphenols (PH) during decomposition of Montrichardia arborescens. Plant and water samples were collected in the Cantá stream (2º 49' 11" N and 60º 40' 24" W), Roraima, Brazil. Decomposition chambers with plant fragments and stream water were incubated. Particulate organic matter was separated from dissolved organic matter and concentrations of CH and PH were determined. The results were fitted to 1st order kinetics models. CH and PH comprised a labile fraction (LCH and LPH) and a refractory fraction (RCH and RPH). The global coefficient associated with LCH weight loss was 1.4 times higher under aerobic conditions (3.4 day-1) higher than for anaerobic conditions. On the other hand, the RCH decay rate in the anaerobic process (0.0074 day-1) was 1.39 times higher. LCH was estimated to be 92 percent while RCH amounted to 8 percent. The LPH anaerobic decay was 5.2 times the value for the aerobic decay (0.67 day-1). For both conditions, RPH decay coefficients were similar (¼ 0.011 day-1). In the aerobic experiments LPH and RPH corresponded to 92.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively. For the anaerobic process these contents were 85.5 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively. From these results, we concluded that in the Cantá stream, the anaerobic degradation of phenols is more efficient than the aerobic counterpart. The aerobic condition provides a faster decay of carbohydrates of this plant.

Este estudo descreveu o decaimento aeróbio e anaeróbio de carboidratos (CH) e polifenóis (PH) durante a decomposição de Montrichardia arborescens. As amostras de planta e de água foram coletadas no igarapé do Cantá (2º 49 ' 11 " N e 60º 40 ' 24 " W), Roraima, Brasil. Câmaras de decomposição contendo fragmentos de plantas e água do iguarapé foram incubadas. A matéria orgânica particulada foi separada da dissolvida e as concentrações CH e PH foram determinadas. Os resultados foram ajustados a um modelo cinético de 1ª ordem. O CH e o PH apresentaram duas frações: uma lábil (LCH e LPH) e uma refratária (RCH e RPH). Verificou-se que o coeficiente global relacionado com a perda de massa do LCH para condição aeróbia (3,4 dia-1) foi 1,4 vezes mais elevado que para a anaeróbia. Por outro lado, o coeficiente de decaimento do RCH para o processo anaeróbio (0,0074 dia-1) foi 1,39 vezes mais elevado. O LCH foi estimado em 92 por cento e o refratário em 8 por cento. A degradação anaeróbia de LPH foi 5,2 vezes mais elevada que a aeróbia (0,67 dia-1). Os coeficientes de decaimento do RPH foram similares (¼ 0,011 dia-1) para ambas condições. Para o experimento aeróbio, o LPH e o RPH corresponderam a 92,5 por cento e 7,5 por cento. Para os processos anaeróbios estas frações foram de 85,5 por cento e 14,5 por cento, respectivamente. A partir destes resultados, supõe-se que no igarapé do Cantá, a degradação anaeróbia dos polifenóis seja mais eficiente que a aeróbia. A condição aeróbia promove um decaimento mais rápido dos carboidratos desta planta.

Occurrence of physiological disease in flooded rice fields / Ocorrência de bico de papagaio em arroz irrigado

The aim of this report is to desenhe the occurrence of the physiological disease "Parrot beak" in flooded rice grown in Rio de Janeiro state soils. The symptoms occurred particularly in the presence of decomposing organic material, affecting the yield because of the high percentage of sterile spickelets.

O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar a ocorrência da doença fisiológica Bico de Papagaio em arroz irrigado cultivado em solos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os sintomas manifestaram-se significativamente na presença de material orgânico em decomposição afetando o rendimento de arroz, dada a elevada percentagem de espiguetas estéreis.