How does trash produce methane?

310 views

What are the specifics in how trash and landfills are able to produce a lot of methane?

In: 38

7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Most organics are made up of Carbon, Oxygen, and Hydrogen. For an example sugar is 6 Carbon, 12 Hydrogen, and 6 Oxygen. In a person this would be combined with 6 more Oxygen to produce 6 water (2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen) and 6 carbon dioxide (1 carbon and 2 oxygen).

Since landfills are sealed there isn’t oxygen available for bacteria, so they break down that sugar in 3 carbon dioxide and 3 methane (3 carbon and 4 hydrogen).

Because there are millions of tons of trash and lots of food bacteria can produce A LOT of methane.

I prefer how yeast deal with sugar though without oxygen.

You are viewing 1 out of 7 answers, click here to view all answers.