Scientists in Norway successfully produce biomethane from carbon dioxide using microbes, achieving a remarkable purity level of 96%
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the Norwegian Institute of BIOeconomy Research (NIBIO) have created a biofilm-based process for producing biomethane, a green and sustainable alternative to natural gas. This innovative approach offers several key advantages over traditional biogas production plants.
Unlike traditional biogas production plants, a biofilm-based process can process different gas streams to primarily produce methane, giving greater purity yields. The process, which utilizes biofilms on plastic carriers, improves gas-liquid interaction and increases the surface area for microbial activity, boosting process efficiency and methane production. As a result, biomethane produced through this method can have up to 96% purity.
One of the most significant advantages of biofilm-based biomethane production is its enhanced tolerance to inhibitors. Biofilm systems maintain methane quality under extreme H₂S and ammonia levels, which usually reduce methane output in traditional biogas plants. This robustness is attributed to the protective environment offered by the biofilm structure, which helps maintain stable microbial communities and facilitates efficient conversion of gases like CO₂ and CO directly into methane under oxygen-free conditions.
Another key improvement is the versatility in feedstock. Biofilm processes enable the use of unconventional substrates such as syngas from plastic waste or woody biomass, which normally degrade poorly in standard anaerobic digestion. This versatility expands the range of usable substrates, making the process more flexible and sustainable.
Feng, a science writer based in Hyderabad, India, led the research team that developed this innovative biofilm-based process. Feng, who is a Molecular Biologist at heart, traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.
While the potential of biofilm-based processes is immense, Feng cautions that they require careful control to function optimally at an industrial scale. For instance, adding hydrogen to the syngas production process showed an increase in methane production, but adding too much hydrogen imbalanced the process.
Looking beyond conventional biogas applications, the research team found that biofilms could improve the production of other gases, such as syngas (a combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). This discovery opens up new possibilities for the use of biofilm-based processes in various industrial applications.
In a press release, Feng mentioned that the results showed that systems without biofilm lost up to 30% of the methane, while the biofilm reactors maintained high methane quality even at extremely high H2S content. This robustness makes biofilm-based processes an important contribution to reducing harmful gas emissions while producing renewable energy.
Biofilms, communities of different microorganisms that stick to each other and surfaces, forming a slimy extracellular matrix, are often described as cities for microbes. Inside the biofilm matrix, biological components such as lipids, proteins, and sugars work to process gases and convert them into methane.
In conclusion, biofilm-based biomethane production represents a more robust, efficient, and flexible method that enhances methane quality and quantity while expanding the range of usable substrates compared to traditional biogas production plants. This innovative approach could play a crucial role in the transition towards sustainable energy production.
- Feng, the science writer specializing in genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy, played a crucial role in developing the biofilm-based process for producing biomethane.
- The biofilm-based process offers several advantages over traditional biogas production plants, including enhanced tolerance to inhibitors, greater purity yields, and versatility in feedstock.
- The biofilm-based process enables the use of unconventional substrates like syngas from plastic waste or woody biomass, which typically degrade poorly in standard anaerobic digestion.
- While the biofilm-based process requires careful control to function optimally at an industrial scale, adding hydrogen to the syngas production process can increase methane production.
- The research team's discovery of biofilms' ability to improve gas production, such as syngas, opens up new possibilities for various industrial applications and contributes to the transition towards sustainable energy production through the reduction of harmful gas emissions and increased renewable energy production.
