Inhibition of methanogenesis by ethylene and other unsaturated hydrocarbons

1. SUMMARY Ethylene (ethene) was found to inhibit methane formation in slurries from sewage sludge and sediment samples taken from freshwater and marine sources. Methane formation from sediment contents was inhibited by 50% at 0.07% ethylene concentration in the gas phase (approx. 5 #moll -1 in the aqueous phase) and by 94% at >i 0.5% ethylene in the gas phase (>1 36 #mol. 1-1 in the aqueous phase). Sulphate reduction was not impaired. Methane formation from added acetate, hydrogen or methanol was inhibited by >1 98%, from lactate by about 90%. The inhibition was reversible, and methanogenic activity recuperated completely after ethylene removal. Cyclopentadiene and cycloheptatriene led to strong inhibition; benzene, toluene, isoprene, and 1-hexine to moderate inhibition of methanogenesis; several unsaturated linear hydrocarbons were without effect. Pure cultures of Methanospirillum hungatei, Methanothrix soehngenii, and Methanosarcina

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