METHANOGENS

AND BIOGAS
ucla genomics

Methanogens

Methanogens are bacteria that produce

methane gas
They can be used as sources of biogas gas
This would be a renewable source of energy

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Ecology

Methanogens require anaerobic conditions

In the digestive systems of herbivores, marshes or
lake bottoms.
Many require warm conditions to work best.
They are associated with a source of organic
matter (e.g. plant remains or sewage) and with
heterotrophic bacteria
The heterotrophs break down this organic matter to
release compounds such as ethanoic acid (aka
acetic acid or vinegar) and hydrogen
The ethanoate ions are a substrate for the
methanogens

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Classification
Methanogens

belong to the Archaea group

of the Prokaryotes
Examples
Methanococcus jannaschii
Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum
The prokaryote kingdom has been split into
several further kingdoms (e.g. Archaea and
Eubacteria) based on the genetics and
biochemistry of microbes
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Biochemistry
Methanogens are chemoautotrophs
Methanogens use a number of different ways
to produce methane
Using ethanoate (acetate) that may be derived
from the decomposition of cellulose:
CH3COO+ + H- CH4 + CO2 +36 kJ mol-1
Or using hydrogen and carbon dioxide produced
by the decomposers:
4 H2 + CO2 CH4 + 2 H2O+130.4 kJ mol-1

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Biogas production

From the
decomposition of
wastes in farming
sewage treatment
A bi-product of the
cleaning up of waste
water
Biogas consists of
about 40% CO2 and
60% CH4

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

BEA Dithmarschen

Requirements

a fermenter, which is supplied with an innoculum of

bacteria (methanogens and decomposers)
anaerobic conditions
an optimum temperature of 35C
an optimum pH of 6.5 to 8
This needs to be monitored as the decomposers
produce acids and they work faster than the
methanogens consume the acids
organic waste (biomass) e.g. sewage, wood pulp

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Methanogens and the

greenhouse effect

Half of the methane produced

by methanogens is used up
as an energy source by other
bacteria
Half is lost to the atmosphere
(600 M tonnes y-1) where it
acts as an important
greenhouse gas
As more land is converted to
rice paddy fields and pasture
for grazing animals more
methane will be produced

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

DAF Shiga Pref.

Warming up the brew

As global warming progresses the permafrost

with thaw in the regions covered by tundra
Tundra contains extensive reserves of frozen
peat
As the peat warms and melts, it will provide a
source of material for methanogens

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The knock on effect

The amount of
methane release into
the atmosphere will
accelerate.
This in turn will drive
global warming even
further
Peatlands form 2030% of organic C in
N. Hemisphere

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

UNEP