On the relation between methane production and sulfate reduction in bottom muds containing sea water sulfate.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The processes of CH4 production in bottom muds containing seawater sulfate were investigated in relation to sulfate reduction and organic acid fermentation. The CH4 production in bottom muds was dependent on the degree of sulfate reduction, and did not occur until about 80% of seawater sulfate was removed by sulfate reduction. The activity of CH4 production in bottom muds was not inhibited even under the sulfide-S concentration of 160 mg/100 g wet mud, and was directly dependent on the amount of organic acids. When the bottom mud with added phytoplankton was incubated at 20.degree. C for 20 days, sulfate decreased with consumption of lactic acid, and acetic and propionic acids were formed as the successive metabolites of lactic acid. Of the 3 organic acids added individually to bottom muds, lactic acid was utilized as H donor for the sulfate reduction, and acetic and propionic acids were produced with the passage of sulfate reduction. Acetic and propionic acids were not utilized for the sulfate reduction, but they were converted into CH4 when the degree of sulfate reduction attained more than 80%. [The present studies were conducted in 2 bays and a brackish lake.].

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: