Methane Emission Reduction and Biological Characteristics of Landfill Cover Soil Amended With Hydrophobic Biochar

Biochar-amended landfill cover soil (BLCS) can promote CH(4) and O(2) diffusion, but it increases rainwater entry in the rainy season, which is not conducive to CH(4) emission reduction. Hydrophobic biochar–amended landfill cover soil (HLCS) was prepared to investigate the changes in CH(4) emission reduction and biological characteristics, and BLCS was prepared as control. Results showed that rainwater retention time in HLCS was reduced by half. HLCS had a higher CH(4) reduction potential, achieving 100% CH(4) removal at 25% CH(4) content of landfill gas, and its main contributors to CH(4) reduction were found to be at depths of 10–30 cm (upper layer) and 50–60 cm (lower layer). The relative abundances of methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) in the upper and lower layers of HLCS were 55.93% and 46.93%, respectively, higher than those of BLCS (50.80% and 31.40%, respectively). Hydrophobic biochar amended to the landfill cover soil can realize waterproofing, ventilation, MOB growth promotion, and efficient CH(4) reduction.