It is an indisputable fact that we, as a whole humanity, are facing the threat of the climate crisis, which will perhaps lead us to the greatest mass extinction in the history of the world years from now. When it comes to greenhouse gases, which are one of the main causes of climate change by keeping the heat in the atmosphere, one of the first things that comes to mind is methane gas, which insidiously causes us to sink deeper into the climate crisis.
Methane gas, which is at least 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide in retaining heat in the atmosphere, is already used in energy production by being collected and burned in 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.
It has been discovered that a species of methane-breathing microbe can convert methane into electricity
Researchers from the Netherlands, looking for ways to obtain more electrons from methane, found an unusual, even they discovered a type of power plant where you would need a microscope to see it. Stating that this discovery could be very beneficial for the energy sector, microbiologist Cornelia Welte from Radbound University said, “In existing biogas plants, methane is produced by microorganisms and then burned, which generates power by driving a turbine. In this way, less than half of the biogas is converted into power, and this is the output that can be obtained. “We want to evaluate whether we can do better using microorganisms.” uses expressions.
The research focuses on a type of archaea-bacterial-like microbe known for its extraordinary ability to survive under strange and harsh conditions, such as being able to decompose methane even in oxygen-deprived environments. This particular type, known as the Anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea, first identified in 2006, 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. The ANME genus Methanoperedens is known to oxidize methane with the help of nitrates.
Attempts to withdraw electrons from this process from microbial fuel cells lead to the generation of very small voltages, with no clear confirmation of exactly what processes might be behind the conversion. 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 percent of the energy in methane can be converted to electrical energy
So Welte and other researchers also collected a sample of microbes they knew were dominated by this methane-spewing archaea and analyzed them. grown in an oxygen-free environment, where methane is the only electron donor. Additionally, by placing a metal anode set to zero voltage near the colony, the researchers created an electrochemical cell prepared to generate current efficiently. “We’re creating a kind of battery with two terminals, where one is the biological terminal and the other is the chemical terminal,” said Heleen Ouboter of Radbound University, “We grow the bacteria on one of the electrodes where it donates electrons from the conversion of methane.” saves as.
Subsequently, analyzing the conversion of methane to carbon dioxide and measuring fluctuating currents of up to 274 milliamps per square centimeter, the team observed that just over a third of the current could be directly attributed to the breakdown of methane. The resulting efficiency was found to be comparable to some power plants, with 31 percent of the energy in methane being converted to electrical energy.
Further work on this process could mean that it is possible to create highly efficient live batteries powered by biogas, generating more sparks from each piece of gas and reducing the need for methane piping over long distances. 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.
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