A Microbe Discovered That Converts Methane Gas To Electricity

As a whole humanity, perhaps years from now, it will lead us to the greatest mass extinction in the history of the world. climate crisis It is an indisputable fact that we are faced with the threat of One of the first things that comes to mind when it comes to greenhouse gases, which are one of the main causes of climate change by keeping the heat in the atmosphere, is the one that causes us to sink deeper into the climate crisis. methane gas.

Minimum amount of carbon dioxide in keeping the heat in the atmosphere 25 times the more effective methane gas is already used in energy production by being collected and burned at the facilities; but this method is actually a relatively ‘low’ method with efficiency. But that may be changing, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

A methane-breathing microbe discovered that can convert methane into electricity

Researchers from the Netherlands, looking for ways to get more electrons from methane, have developed an unusual, even microscope, to see. power plant type they discovered. Stating that this discovery could be very useful for the energy sector, microbiologist Cornelia Welte from Radbound University said, “Methane in existing biogas plants, microorganisms It’s produced by a turbine and then combusted, which generates power by driving a turbine. In this way, the biogas less than half converted to power and this is the maximum achievable capacity. using microorganisms whether we can do better We want to evaluate it.” uses expressions.

The research focuses on a type of archaea – bacteria-like microbes known for their extraordinary ability to survive under strange and harsh conditions, such as being able to decompose methane even in oxygen-deprived environments. First described in 2006 Anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) This particular type, known as the archaea, can discharge electrons in a chain of electrochemical reactions, use one type of metal or metalloid outside of their cells, and even transfer them to other species in their environment. Methanoperedens of the ANME genus produce methane with the aid of nitrates. it oxidizes known.

Attempts to withdraw electrons from this process from microbial fuel cells are very minor, with no clear confirmation of exactly what processes might be behind the conversion. to generate voltages it causes. For these archaea to show promise as methane-ingesting power cells, they must clearly emit a current. What’s more, the fact that Methanoperedens is an elusive microbe complicates matters even more.

31% of the energy in methane can be converted into electrical energy

So Welte and other researchers also collected a sample of microbes they knew were dominated by this methane-spitting archaea and grew them in an oxygen-free environment, where methane was the only electron donor. In addition, the researchers moved closer to the colony. set to zero voltage By placing a metal anode, they created an electrochemical cell designed to generate current efficiently. on the subject “One is the biological terminal and the other is the chemical terminal. a type of battery with two terminals we create” Heleen Ouboter of Radbound University, who used the expressions “We grow the bacteria on one of the electrodes where it donates electrons from the conversion of methane.” saves as.

Following this, the team analyzed the conversion of methane to carbon dioxide and measured ripple currents as high as 274 milliamps per square centimeter. just over a third of observed that it could be directly related to the breakdown of methane. The efficiency achieved is that of the energy in methane. 31 percent of by converting to electrical energy comparable to some power plants. found to be coming.

Further work on this process will lead to biogas-powered products that generate more sparks from each piece of gas and reduce the need for methane piping over long distances. high efficiency live batteries may mean that it is possible to create. And that’s hugely important given that some methane plants barely produce around 30 percent efficiency. However, if we look from a more optimistic perspective, it seems that an important step may have been taken towards finding a way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.