Measurements of stable isotope ratios (13CH4/12CH4) in landfill methane using a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer (TDLAS)

Variations in the isotopic composition (δ13C, δD) of methane produced within a landfill site near Mainz, Germany, were studied using a newly developed tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer (TDLAS) method. Additional data on the mixing ratios of CO2, O2, N2, CH4 itself and δ13C of the CO2 in the landfill gas were also acquired. Samples taken from several branches of the landfill biogas collection system had methane isotopic compositions in the range δ13C = −62.3 to −55.3 %o VPDB (n = 23) and δD = −327 to −287%o VSMOW (n = 23). Although the variability of the stable isotope ratios is small, several significant correlations were found between these and the other measured parameters, which provide insight into the microbiological processes occurring within the landfill. Several samples showed evidence of admixture of atmospheric air which occurs when the pumping rate in the collection branch exceeds the local methane production rate. A fraction of the atmospheric oxygen is consumed during the passage through the landfill and CO2 is produced in addition to the CO2 associated with methanogenesis. The consumption of oxygen is correlated with the δ13C and δD of CH4 and the δ13C of CO2. The correlation is consistent with partial bacterial oxidation of CH4 resulting in the progressive enrichment of the remaining CH4 (α(δ13C) = 1.008 ± 0.003 and α(δD) = 1.044 ± 0.020) and in the formation of very depleted CO2. For samples showing no evidence of oxidation, there was a negative correlation between δD and δ13C(CH4)(r = −0.86, n = 14) and between δ13C(CO2) and δ13C(CH4) (r = −0.95, n = 14), which we interpret as originating from slightly varying contributions from the two methanogenic pathways CO2 reduction and acetate fermentation.