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At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Investigation of Compton profiles of molecular methane and ethane

The Compton profiles of methane and ethane molecules have been determined at an incident photon energy of 20 keV based on the third generation synchrotron radiation, and the statistical accuracy of 0.2% is achieved near p{sub z} = 0. The density functional theory with aug-cc-pVTZ basis set was used to calculate the Compton profiles of methane and ethane. The present experimental Compton profiles are in better agreement with the theoretical calculations in the whole p{sub z} region than the previous experimental results, which indicates that the present experimental Compton profiles are accurate enough to serve as the benchmark data for methane and ethane molecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Application of parasound data for sediment study on methane seep site at Simeulue basin

The Parasound data presents sea depth and sub-bottom profiler. In terms of geological terminology, parasound data represents significant recent surface sedimentary structures that valuable for the selection of subsequent sampling site such as sampling at methane seep site. Therefore, Parasound is used to detailing methane seep at surface sediment following seismic data interpretation. In this study, parasound is used to focus observe area especially for sediment study on methane seep site. The Parasound systems works both as narrow beam sounder use high frequency and as sediment echosounder use low frequency. Parasound acquisition applies parametric effect. It produces additional frequency by nonlinear acoustic interaction of finite amplitude waves. Parasound transducers have 128 elements on 1 m2 and need transmission power up to 70 kW. The results of this study are discovered large seep carbonate with porous surface which means there are gas expulsions passing through that rock.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Methane dissociation on Pt(111): Searching for a specific reaction parameter density functional

The theoretical description of methane dissociating on metal surfaces is a current frontier in the field of gas-surface dynamics. Dynamical models that aim at achieving a highly accurate description of this reaction rely on potential energy surfaces based on density functional theory calculations at the generalized gradient approximation. We focus here on the effect that the exchange-correlation functional has on the reactivity of methane on a metal surface, using CHD{sub 3} + Pt(111) as a test case. We present new ab initio molecular dynamics calculations performed with various density functionals, looking also at functionals that account for the van der Waals (vdW) interaction. While searching for a semi-empirical specific reaction parameter density functional for this system, we find that the use of a weighted average of the PBE and the RPBE exchange functionals together with a vdW-corrected correlation functional leads to an improved agreement with quantum state-resolved experimental data for the sticking probability, compared to previous PBE calculations. With this semi-empirical density functional, we have also investigated the surface temperature dependence of the methane dissociation reaction and the influence of the rotational alignment on the reactivity, and compared our results with experiments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Assessing density functionals for describing methane dissociative chemisorption on Pt(110)-(2×1) surface

In this work, we explore the suitability of several density functionals with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and beyond for describing the dissociative chemisorption of methane on the reconstructed Pt(110)-(2×1) surface. The bulk and surface structures of the metal, methane adsorption energy, and dissociation barrier are used to assess the functionals. A van der Waals corrected GGA functional (optPBE-vdW) and a metaGGA functional with van der Waals correction (MS PBEl-rVV10) are selected for ab initio molecular dynamics calculations of the sticking probability. Our results suggest that the use of these two functionals may lead to a better agreement with existing experimental results, thus serving as a good starting point for future development of reliable machine-learned potential energy surfaces for the dissociation of methane on the Pt(110)-(2×1) surface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Analysis of spectroscopic information for detecting methane emissions on local paths using CO and He – Ne lasers

Measuring the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is demonstrated to be very important, since an increase in methane content enhances the greenhouse effect. It is shown that the error in assessing the concentration of CH{sub 4} depends on many factors, including the reliability of the parameters of the spectral absorption lines of gases, the accuracy of determining the concentration, the measurement error, etc. The spectroscopic information necessary to detect sources of high methane concentration in the atmosphere using CO and He – Ne lasers is analysed. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Light-driven carbon dioxide reduction to methane by nitrogenase in a photosynthetic bacterium

Significance One of the most important life-sustaining metabolisms that results from a net reduction reaction is the conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia by nitrogenase in a process known as nitrogen fixation. A nitrogenase variant has been described that converts carbon dioxide to methane in vitro. Here, we expressed this variant in an engineered strain of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris and showed biological light-driven methane production. Its ability to reduce carbon dioxide at ambient temperature and pressure with a single enzyme and energy provided by light makes the methane-producing strain of R. palustris an excellent starting point to understand how a biological system can marshal resources to produce an energy-rich hydrocarbon in one enzymatic step.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

WISE J163940.83-684738.6: A Y DWARF IDENTIFIED BY METHANE IMAGING

We have used methane imaging techniques to identify the near-infrared counterpart of the bright Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) source WISE J163940.83-684738.6. The large proper motion of this source ( Almost-Equal-To 3.''0 yr{sup -1}) has moved it, since its original WISE identification, very close to a much brighter background star-it currently lies within 1.''5 of the J = 14.90 {+-} 0.04 star 2MASS 16394085-6847446. Observations in good seeing conditions using methane-sensitive filters in the near-infrared J band with the FourStar instrument on the Magellan 6.5 m Baade telescope, however, have enabled us to detect a near-infrared counterpart. We have defined a photometric system for use with the FourStar J2 and J3 filters, and this photometry indicates strong methane absorption, which unequivocally identifies it as the source of the WISE flux. Using these imaging observations we were then able to steer this object down the slit of the Folded-port Infrared Echellette spectrograph on a night of 0.''6 seeing, and so obtain near-infrared spectroscopy confirming a Y0-Y0.5 spectral type. This is in line with the object's near-infrared-to-WISE J3 - W2 color. Preliminary astrometry using both WISE and FourStar data indicates a distance of 5.0 {+-} 0.5 pc and a substantial tangential velocity of 73 {+-} 8 km s{sup -1}. WISE J163940.83-684738.6 is the brightest confirmed Y dwarf in the WISE W2 passband and its distance measurement places it among the lowest luminosity sources detected to date.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Increased importance of methane reduction for a 1.5 degree target

To understand the importance of methane on the levels of carbon emission reductions required to achieve temperature goals, a processed-based approach is necessary rather than reliance on the transient climate response to emissions. We show that plausible levels of methane (CH 4 ) mitigation can make a substantial difference to the feasibility of achieving the Paris climate targets through increasing the allowable carbon emissions. This benefit is enhanced by the indirect effects of CH 4 on ozone (O 3 ). Here the differing effects of CH 4 and CO 2 on land carbon storage, including the effects of surface O 3 , lead to an additional increase in the allowable carbon emissions with CH 4 mitigation. We find a simple robust relationship between the change in the 2100 CH 4 concentration and the extra allowable cumulative carbon emissions between now and 2100 (0.27 ± 0.05 GtC per ppb CH 4 ). This relationship is independent of modelled climate sensitivity and precise temperature target, although later mitigation of CH 4 reduces its value and thus methane reduction effectiveness. Up to 12% of this increase in allowable emissions is due to the effect of surface ozone. We conclude early mitigation of CH 4 emissions would significantly increase the feasibility of stabilising global warming below 1.5 °C, alongside having co-benefits for human and ecosystem health.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

DIRECT IMAGING DETECTION OF METHANE IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF GJ 504 b

Most exoplanets detected by direct imaging thus far have been characterized by relatively hot (≳1000 K) and cloudy atmospheres. A surprising feature in some of their atmospheres has been a distinct lack of methane, possibly implying non-equilibrium chemistry. Recently, we reported the discovery of a planetary companion to the Sun-like star GJ 504 using Subaru/HiCIAO within the Strategic Exploration of Exoplanets and Disks with Subaru survey. The planet is substantially colder (<600 K) than previously imaged planets, and has indications of fewer clouds, which implies that it represents a new class of planetary atmospheres with expected similarities to late T-type brown dwarfs in the same temperature range. If so, one might also expect the presence of significant methane absorption, which is characteristic of such objects. Here, we report the detection of deep methane absorption in the atmosphere of GJ 504 b, using the Spectral Differential Imaging mode of HiCIAO to distinguish the absorption features around 1.6 μm. We also report updated JHK photometry based on new K {sub s}-band data and a re-analysis of the existing data. The results support the notion that GJ 504 b has atmospheric properties distinct from other imaged exoplanets, and will become a useful reference object for future planets in the same temperature range.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

High pressure shock tube ignition delay time measurements during oxy-methane combustion with high levels of CO 2 dilution

For this study, ignition delay times and methane species time-histories were measured for methane/O 2 mixtures in a high CO 2 diluted environment using shock tube and laser absorption spectroscopy. The experiments were performed between 1300 K and 2000 K at pressures between 6 and 31 atm. The test mixtures were at an equivalence ratio of 1 with CH 4 mole fractions ranging from 3.5% -5% and up to 85% CO 2 with a bath of argon gas as necessary. The ignition delay times and methane time histories were measured using pressure, emission, and laser diagnostics. Predictive ability of two literature kinetic mechanisms (GRI 3.0 and ARAMCO Mech 1.3) was tested against current data. In general, both mechanisms performed reasonably well against measured ignition delay time data. The methane time-histories showed good agreement with the mechanisms for most of the conditions measured. A correlation for ignition delay time was created taking into the different parameters showing that the ignition activation energy for the fuel to be 49.64 kcal/mol. Through a sensitivity analysis, CO 2 is shown to slow the overall reaction rate and increase the ignition delay time. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first shock tube data during ignition of methane/CO 2 /O 2 under these conditions. In conclusion, current data provides crucial validation data needed for development of future kinetic mechanisms.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental Investigation of Gaseous Mixtures of Ethane, Methane, and Carbon Dioxide as an Alternative to Conventional Fuel in Spark Ignition Engines

This study investigates the viability and performance of certain synthetic fuels in spark ignition internal combustion engine based stationary power generation wherein the fuel comprises a mixture of methane and ethane in high dilutions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The fuel of concern is a byproduct of a novel method for producing ethylene from ethane. The byproduct gas mixture has a concentration of approximately 41% CO 2 , 40% ethane, and 5% methane by weight along with other minor compounds. Varying mixtures of ethane and methane combined with between 42% and 46% by weight CO 2 were used to evaluate the viability and efficiency of this fuel to operate in existing internal combustion engines as a means of reducing emissions and increasing industrial process efficiency. A 13 hp gasoline generator was repurposed as a test stand by incorporating a modified fuel induction system and instrumentation for data collection. A gas metering and mixing system was installed to precisely control the mass flow of gases induced into the engine. Various instrumentations were installed to monitor in-cylinder pressure, temperature at various locations, emissions, and fuel and airflow rates. Varying fuel mixtures and loads were tested and compared to gasoline. It was found that under a high load, the mixed gas was able to generate comparable thermal efficiency and power to gasoline. But under no load or a part load condition the indicated thermal efficiency was found to be about 21% lower than that of gasoline. Further, the mixed gas also resulted in up to 50% reduction in CO and NOx emissions when compared to gasoline.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Climate-induced shifts in sulfate dynamics regulate anaerobic methane oxidation in a coastal wetland

Anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) is a key microbial pathway that mitigates methane emissions in coastal wetlands, but the response of AMO to changing global climate remains poorly understood. Here, we assessed the response of AMO to climate change in a brackish coastal wetland using a 5-year field manipulation of warming and elevated carbon dioxide ( e CO 2 ). Sulfate (SO 4 2− )–dependent AMO (S-DAMO) was the predominant AMO process at our study site due to tidal inputs of SO 4 2− . However, SO 4 2− dynamics responded differently to the treatments; warming reduced SO 4 2− concentration by enhancing SO 4 2− reduction, while eCO 2 increased SO 4 2− concentration by enhancing SO 4 2− regeneration. S-DAMO rates mirrored these trends, with warming decreasing S-DAMO rates and e CO 2 stimulating them. These findings underscore the potential of climate change to alter soil AMO activities through changing SO 4 2− dynamics, highlighting the need to incorporate these processes in predictive models for more accurate representations of coastal wetland methane dynamics.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Lateral Gene Transfer Drives Metabolic Flexibility in the Anaerobic Methane-Oxidizing Archaeal Family Methanoperedenaceae

AOM by microorganisms limits the atmospheric release of the potent greenhouse gas methane and has consequent importance for the global carbon cycle and climate change modeling. While the oxidation of methane coupled to sulfate by consortia of anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea and bacteria is well documented, several other potential electron acceptors have also been reported to support AOM. In this study, we identify a number of novel respiratory strategies that appear to have been laterally acquired by members of the Methanoperedenaceae , as they are absent from related archaea and other ANME lineages. Expanding the known metabolic potential for members of the Methanoperedenaceae provides important insight into their ecology and suggests their role in linking methane oxidation to several global biogeochemical cycles.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Wetland Soil Characterization and Methane Production Impacted by Nickel Addition, Argonne and Tims Branch Wetlands, September and October 2020

Abstract:Freshwater wetland soils are foci of biogeochemical cycling as they serve as key sources of methane to the atmosphere. An array of metalloenzymes is essential to anaerobic microbial carbon transformations. Nickel is notably recognized as playing key roles in the enzymatic pathways of methanogenesis. Low availability of trace metals limits microbial element cycling in laboratory studies, but the occurrence of such limitations in natural subsurface aquatic systems is poorly understood. Microcosm incubation studies were carried out using two distinct wetland soils, one from a marsh wetland and the second from a riparian wetland, to explore the effect of dissolved Ni concentrations on methane production. Data are provided for wetland soil characterization and soil incubation experiments using materials from marsh wetlands at Argonne National Laboratory and riparian wetlands in the Tims Branch watershed at Savannah River National Laboratory. The characterization data consists soil carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and iron contents plus as well as the solid-phase concentrations of copper, nickel, cobalt, and zinc, bioessential trace metals that may limits microbial metabolic process if they have low availability. The data for the soil incubation experiments include fluid pH, fluid dissolved trace metal concentrations, and cumulative methane production. Three soil incubations are reported: marsh wetland soil with increasing nickel addition, marsh wetland soil in sulfate-free water with increasing nickel addition, and riparian wetland soil with increasing nickel addition. All data are provided in text-based CSV format with header sections indicating the data contained in each file and the corresponding units. Note that "u" is used in place of Greek lower case mu to indicate the micro prefix on units. A Table of Contents file (Yan_Soil_Incubations_2020_TOC.txt) provides an index for the data contained in the individual files.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Closing the Gaps in the Budgets of Methane and Nitrous Oxide

Together methane and nitrous oxide contribute almost 40% of the estimated increase in radiative forcing caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases during the last 250 years (IPCC, 2007). These increases are attributed to human activities. Since the emissions of these gases are from biogenic sources and closely associated with living things in the major terrestrial ecosystems of the world, climate change is expected to cause feedbacks that may further increase emissions even from systems normally classified as natural. Our results support the idea that while past increases of methane were driven by direct emissions from human activities, some of these have reached their limits and that the future of methane changes may be determined by feedbacks from warming temperatures. The greatly increased current focus on the arctic and the fate of the carbon frozen in its permafrost is an example of such a feedback that could exceed the direct increases caused by future human activities (Zimov et al. 2006).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Methane for Power Generation in Muaro Jambi: A Green Prosperity Model Project

NREL conducted eight model projects for Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) Compact with Indonesia. Green Prosperity, the largest project of the Compact, seeks to address critical constraints to economic growth while supporting the Government of Indonesia's commitment to a more sustainable, less carbon-intensive future. This study evaluates electricity generation from the organic content of wastewater at a palm oil mill in Muaro Jambi, Sumatra. Palm mills use vast amounts of water in the production process resulting in problematic waste water called palm oil mill effluent (POME). The POME releases methane to the atmosphere in open ponds which could be covered to capture the methane to produce renewable electricity for rural villages. The study uses average Indonesia data to determine the economic viability of methane capture at a palm oil mill and also evaluates technology as well as social and environmental impacts of the project.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2014

Syntrophic interactions and mechanisms underpinning anaerobic methane oxidation: targeted metaproteogenomics, single-cell protein detection and quantitative isotope imaging of microbial consortia

Syntrophy and mutualism play a central role in carbon and nutrient cycling by microorganisms. Yet, our ability to effectively study symbionts in culture has been hindered by the inherent interdependence of syntrophic associations, their dynamic behavior, and their frequent existence at thermodynamic limits. Now solutions to these challenges are emerging in the form of new methodologies. Developing strategies that establish links between the identity of microorganisms and their metabolic potential, as well as techniques that can probe metabolic networks on a scale that captures individual molecule exchange and processing, is at the forefront of microbial ecology. Understanding the interactions between microorganisms on this level, at a resolution previously intractable, will lead to our greater understanding of carbon turnover and microbial community resilience to environmental perturbations. In this project, we studied an enigmatic syntrophic association between uncultured methane-oxidizing archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria. This environmental archaeal-bacterial partnership represents a globally important sink for methane in anoxic environments. The specific goals of this project were organized into 3 major tasks designed to address questions relating to the ecophysiology of these syntrophic organisms under changing environmental conditions (e.g. different electron acceptors and nutrients), primarily through the development of microanalytical imaging methods which enable the visualization of the spatial distribution of the partners within aggregates, consumption and exchange of isotopically labeled substrates, and expression of targeted proteins identified via metaproteomics. The advanced tool set developed here to collect, correlate, and analyze these high resolution image and isotope-based datasets from methane-oxidizing consortia has the potential to be widely applicable for studying and modeling patterns of activity and interactions across a broad range of spatially structured microbial partnerships, including other syntrophic associations, microbial mats, biofilms, and plant-microbe or animal-microbe symbioses in nature.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Controlling Methane Emissions in the Natural Gas Sector. A Review of Federal and State Regulatory Frameworks Governing Production, Gathering, Processing, Transmission, and Distribution

This report provides an overview of the regulatory frameworks governing natural gas supply chain infrastructure siting, construction, operation, and maintenance. Information was drawn from a number of sources, including published analyses, government reports, in addition to relevant statutes, court decisions and regulatory language, as needed. The scope includes all onshore facilities that contribute to methane emissions from the natural gas sector, focusing on three areas of state and federal regulations: (1) natural gas pipeline infrastructure siting and transportation service (including gathering, transmission, and distribution pipelines), (2) natural gas pipeline safety, and (3) air emissions associated with the natural gas supply chain. In addition, the report identifies the incentives under current regulatory frameworks to invest in measures to reduce leakage, as well as the barriers facing investment in infrastructure improvement to reduce leakage. Policy recommendations regarding how federal or state authorities could regulate methane emissions are not provided; rather, existing frameworks are identified and some of the options for modifying existing regulations or adopting new regulations to reduce methane leakage are discussed.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗