title: Simulation model for gas diffusion and methane oxidation in landfill cover soils.
abstract: Landfill cover soils oxidize a considerable fraction of the methane produced by landfilled waste. Despite many efforts this oxidation is still poorly quantified. In order to reduce the uncertainties associated with methane oxidation in landfill cover soils, a simulation model was developed that incorporates Stefan-Maxwell diffusion, methane oxidation, and methanotrophic growth. The growth model was calibrated to laboratory data from an earlier study. There was an excellent agreement between the model and the experimental data. Therefore, the model is highly applicable to laboratory column studies, but it has not been validated with field data. A sensitivity analysis showed that the model is most sensitive to the parameter expressing the maximum attainable methanotrophic activity of the soil. Temperature and soil moisture are predicted to be the environmental factors affecting the methane oxidizing capacity of a landfill cover soil the most. Once validated with field data, the model will enable a year-round estimate of the methane oxidizing capacity of a landfill cover soil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Analytical and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. alex.devisscher@ugent.be
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Visscher
authors.forename: Oswald
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Van Cleemput
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D005740:Gases; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D008697:Methane