Buoyant permeable reactive barrier

Abstract

A buoyant permeable reactive barrier for blocking the emission of greenhouse gasses (e.g., methane) and volatile compounds (e.g., ammonia, sulfur) from a body of water is provided. The buoyant reactive barrier includes a plurality of buoyant reactive barrier elements arranged in one or more substantially planar layers on the surface of the water. The reactive barrier elements are selected to provide for selective permeability of certain compounds/gasses through the buoyant barrier, while blocking or reacting with other compounds/gasses. At least a subset of the barrier elements may be provided with a catalyst for catalyzing the oxidation of volatile compounds to less volatile products. At least a subset of the barrier elements may be sufficiently large to impart wind and wave resistance to the reactive barrier. The buoyant barrier may include a gelatinous extracellular polymeric matrix that fills the interstitial spaces between the plurality of buoyant reactive barrier elements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.