Using methanotrophic bacteria, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have created a sophisticated biological process that turns carbon dioxide and methane into clean biofuels.
One of the main causes of global warming is methane, a greenhouse gas that is 27–30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Although converting carbon dioxide and methane into liquid fuels can lower emissions and provide renewable energy, the scalability of current chemical processes is limited by their high cost, energy consumption, and production of hazardous byproducts.
Under modest working circumstances, the study team created a totally biological process that turns methane and carbon dioxide into bio-methanol using Methylosinus trichosporium, a species of methanotrophic bacterium.
According to the institution, this technique is more energy-efficient than conventional chemical procedures, avoids hazardous byproducts, and does not require costly catalysts.
The innovative two-stage process involves:
- Capturing methane to generate bacteria-based biomass
- Utilising the biomass to convert carbon dioxide into methanol
Using cutting-edge engineering techniques, the researchers further optimized the process to increase gas solubility and methanol yields.
According to the press release, the study tackles two urgent worldwide issues: the depletion of fossil fuel supplies and the detrimental effects of greenhouse gases on the ecosystem.
Professor Debasish Das and Dr. Krishna Kalyani Sahoo of the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, co-authored the paper, which was published in Fuel, an Elsevier publication.
Key Comments
“This research is a breakthrough as it demonstrates that bio-methanol, derived from bacteria feeding on methane and carbon dioxide, can be a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Unlike conventional biofuels that rely on crops and create competition with food production, our method uses greenhouse gases, avoiding the ‘food vs. fuel’ issue. It is an environmentally and economically viable solution, utilising inexpensive resources while contributing to emissions reduction,” said Prof Debasish Das, Dept. of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati.
