NIBIO has contributed to developing a method for turning greenhouse gases like CO2 or CO into biomethane—a renewable energy source. Using thin layers of microorganisms, so-called biofilms, greenhouse gases can be transformed into clean-burning fuel.
Carbon-based gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) are often associated with pollution and climate change. But what if these gases could be turned into something useful instead—like clean-burning fuel?
This is what Dr. Lu Feng and other researchers have been working on. The goal of the collaboration has been to develop a new method for producing green biomethane, a sustainable alternative to natural gas.
Through five scientific papers, the researchers have documented how biofilm-based processes can be used to produce biomethane with over 96% purity.
The papers appear in Biomass and Bioenergy, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Bioresource Technology Reports, Bioresource Technology and Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts.
Engineered biofilm for targeted conversion
A biofilm is a layer of microorganisms that grow on surfaces. The microbes work together and form a kind of community that can process gases and turn them into methane.
“Instead of decomposing organic waste, as is done in traditional biogas production, the biofilm method captures and processes gas streams using self-selected microorganisms harbored within thin biofilm under oxygen-free conditions,” Dr. Feng explains.
“Biofilms are widespread in nature,” he continues. “Our aim has been to engineer the biofilm to work for us for targeted conversion, either by using fixed or moving bed reactors. This opens new opportunities to convert climate-impacting gases into valuable energy.”
Among other things, the researchers experimented with adding selected microorganisms—a process known as bioaugmentation—to improve methane production.
“By introducing specific methane-producing microbes into the reactors, we were able to steer the process towards more efficient CO₂…
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