Evaluation and statistical optimization of methane oxidation using rice husk amended dumpsite soil as biocover

A laboratory scale study was conducted to investigate the effect of rice husk amended biocover to mitigate the CH4 emission from landfills. Various physico-chemical and environmental variables like proportion of amended biocover material (rice husk), temperature, moisture content, CH4 concentration, CO2 concentration, O2 concentration and incubation time were considered in the study which affect the CH4 bio-oxidation. For the present study, sequential statistical approach with Placket Burman Design (PBD) was used to identify significant variables, having influential role on CH4 bio-oxidation, from all variables. Further, interactive effect of four selected variables including rice husk proportion, temperature, CH4 concentration and incubation time was studied with Box-Behnken Design (BBD) adopting Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize the conditions for CH4 oxidation. In this study, the maximum CH4 oxidation potential of 76.83 μgCH4 g−1dw h−1 was observed under optimum conditions with rice husk amendment of 6% (w/w), 5 h incubation time at 40 °C temperature with 40% (v/v) initial CH4 concentration. The results for CH4 oxidation potential also advocated the suitability of rice husk amendment in biocover system to curb emitted CH4 from landfills/open dumpsite over conventional clay or sand cover on supplying CH4 and O2 to microbes on maintaining proper aeration.