REDUCED METHANE EMISSIONS FROM POND MESOCOSMS USING A NOVEL AERATION TECHNOLOGY

Methane is the 3rd most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, contributing 28 times the impact of CO₂ emissions on a per mass basis, therefore an ideal target gas to remove from the atmosphere. This study explores a tool to reduce methane emissions from aquatic systems.  EM Fluids (EMF) has developed a solar-powered device that enhances gas mass transfer rates (e.g., like oxygen) across the air-water interface by ~2x with minimal energy input. The EMF device is hypothesized to increase methanotrophic activity, while decreasing methanogenic activity through increased oxygenation in the water column. Further, by increasing gas mass transfer, the treatment may aid in gas transport from ebullition into the water column, making it more readily available to methanotrophs. In lab water columns, methane mass transfer rates from bubbles into the water column significantly increased using the EMF device. In field-based pond mescosms, net methane emissions, net methane oxidation, and gas-mass transfer during ebullition were observed over the summer months; preliminary analyses found net methane emissions were reduced and net methane oxidation was increased under EMF treatment. The study provides insight into future applications of EMF technology in large freshwater bodies to reduce methane and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Presentation Preference: Standard Oral (12 Minutes)

Primary Presenter: Sam Poon, Toronto Metropolitan University (s1poon@torontomu.ca)

Authors:

Sam Poon, Toronto Metropolitan University  (s1poon@torontomu.ca)

Vadim Bostan, Toronto Metropolitan University  (vbostan@torontomu.ca)

Kruti Shukla, E M Fluids Inc.  (kshukla@emfluids.com)

Andrew Laursen, Toronto Metropolitan University  (alaursen@torontomu.ca)