Shallow aquifer methane injection mesocosm study

Methane contamination of shallow groundwater from natural or anthropogenic sources is a growing concern, particularly due to the rise in unconventional natural gas extraction technologies. By simulating a shallow freshwater aquifer, using continuous flow bioreactor mesocosms, this project aims to evaluate the effect of electron acceptor (oxygen and/or nitrate) limitation on methane oxidation and methane-oxidizing microbial communities under controlled conditions. This would provide further information on microbial community response to methane contamination in shallow groundwater and could be beneficial for groundwater monitoring and decontamination technologies.