[Determination of the rate of microbiological oxidation of methane using 14CH4].

The rate of microbiological oxidation of methane was determined by a technique using 12CH4. About 75-96 percent of the carbon form the methane oxidized by microorganisms was found in carbon dioxide, the remaining part was incorporated into the microbial cells. The rate of microbiological mehtane oxidation in the water of the Mari lakes was 6.4 times 10(-3) to 464.4 times 10(-3) cm3 CH4/litre per day.