Methane Production By Bacteria Fermentation As A Source

of Fuel

The biological process of microbial methanogenesis can occur where organic matter accumulates,
such as in animal digestive tracts and in river sediments, under anaerobic conditions (Chynoweth
1996). Wastewater treatment has used methanogenesis, producing methane CH4, for over 150 years
in the digestion of biosolids (Rittmann 2008). Interest in methane production by bacterial
fermentation as a source of fuel has progressed since the issues of oil security in the 1970s (Logan
2004, Benemann, Weissman, Koopman and Oswald 1977). Sources and Supply of Substrate
Yadvika and colleagues, in a review quoted by Antoni, Zverlov and Schwarz (2007) state the choice
of substrate as organic household or industrial waste, commercial energy plant life and plant
biomass. Specific substrates include household food waste and garden waste, municipal solid waste,
sewage sludge and wastewater, industrial recycling of paper, agricultural and food production waste

including fats from abattoirs and factories and manure from horses, pigs, cows and chickens. Energy
crops considered suitable for adding purely or mixing with organic waste to produce biogas are
clover, grass, young poplar and willow trees and maize (Antoni et al. 2007) although there are
arguments against growing new biomass when waste plant materials is available.
Appropriate substrate for bacterial fermentation to produce methane is available and accessible. A
general point is that quality control procedures will be required to ensure, what Antoni calls a
homogenous quality of substrate entering bacterial fermentation processes. The lack of a substrate
quality control system will limit the effectiveness and efficiency of methane production towards fuel.
Biofuels as a Source of Transportation Fuel
Organic waste as a commodity will grow proportionate to the increasing global population. Earlier
this year, Kunzig asserted that the current 7 billion people in the world are projected to reach a
global population of 9 billion by 2045. Consumption of energy worldwide in 2004 was reported by
Goldemberg and Johasson cited by Rittmann, as 13 terrawatts (1TW = 1012W) with approximately
80% of that energy derived from fossil fuels. Figures from EIA published in 2006 are cited by Antoni
et al. (2007) that transportation uses 27% of primary energy worldwide and is the fastest growing
sector.

Against this demand, the potential of methane to contribute to producing a biofuel is considerable as
only a small number of energy-rich chemicals compounds can be produced by microbes (Madigan,
Martinko, Dunlap and Clark 2009) and still have the capacity to make safe fit for purpose fuel that
can be stored and have a high energy efficiency in combustion engines and capability to power a
vehicle (Antoni et al. 2007).
References
Antoni D, Zverlov VV, Schwarz WH. Biofuels from microbes. Applied Microbiology and
Biotechnology. 2007; 77:23-35
Benemann JR, Weissman JC, Koopman BL, Oswald WJ. Energy production by microbial
photosynthesis. Nature. 1977; 268 (5615): 19-23.
Chynoweth DP. Environmental impact of biomethanogenesis. Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment. 1996; 42: 3-18.

Kunzig R. Population 7 Billion. [homepage on the Internet] National Geographic; 2011 [updated
January 2011; cited 2011 Jul 20].Available
Logan BE. Extracting Hydrogen and Electricity from Renewable Sources. Environmental Science
and Technology. 2004; 160A-167A
Madigan MT, Martinko JM, Dunlap PV, Clark DP. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 12th ed. San
Francisco (USA): Pearson Benjamin Cummings; 2009.
Rittmann B. Opportunities for Renewable Bioenergy using Microorganisms. Biotechnology and
Bioengineering. 2008; 100 (2): 203-212.
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