Sediment Oxygen Demand Model: Methane and Ammonia Oxidation,
Abstract
A model of sediment oxygen demand is presented which determines the SOD from the extent of oxidation of methane and ammonia generated in the anaerobic zone of the sediment. The fluxes of dissolved methane, ammonia, methane, and nitrogen gas are also included in the model. The importance of methane and nitrogen gas fluxes and their quantitative relationship to SOD is established. This important relationship has implications both with respect to modeling SOD kinetics and for field data collection programs. Any field program that includes the measurement of SOD should also include the measurement of these gas fluxes. It is shown that the square root relationship that has been observed in experiments and in field data between SOD and sediment areal volatile solids and COD concentrations is the result of an increasing fraction of gaseous methane that escapes. The dissolved methane mass transfer coefficient and the two oxidation reaction rate parameters are estimated from laboratory and field data sets with simultaneous measurements of at least two of the modeled fluxes. The effect of overlying water, dissolved oxygen, and temperature is examined and found to conform to the model formulation. The model is limited to freshwater sediments since the oxidation of sulfides is not included. The contribution from the respiration of benthic macrofauna is also not incorporated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADP007785
Entities
People
- David A. Gruber
- Dominic M. Ditoro
- Karupannan Subburamu
- Paul R. Paquin
Organizations
- American Society of Civil Engineers