What are the various sources behind the production of methane ?

Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon and is the first member of homologous series of alkanes. Some of the sources of methane are:

(i) Methane is the major constituent of the natural gas and occurs along with petroleum in the earth’s sedimentary traps.

(ii) In the marshy lands, it is produced by the bacterial decomposition of plant and animal matter under water and is observed bubbling through the surface. Since methane gas is produced in marshy lands, it is also known as marsh gas. It is also found in coalmines where it is known as fire damp.

(iii) Coal gas also contains methane gas to the extent of 40 per cent.

(iv) Methane us the major constituent of gobar gas and sewage gas obtained by decomposition of animal dung, excreta and plant wastes. Methane gas is also produced by bacteria living the gut (digestive track) of cattle and termites.

(v) It is also produced by the mulch of rice paddies in land fields.