Microbial Methanol Synthesis Team 3: Robert Clifford, Patricia Firmin, Gen Liang, Rooma Raza

Methanotrophs

Where Do These Bacteria Live? Wetlands Sewage Lake Basin Bogs

Methanotroph Groupings Group I: Ribulose Monophosphate Cycle Group II: Serine Cycle Optimize Enzyme MMO Inhibit Enzyme MDH

Methane Monooxygenase pMMO – Particulate Methane Monoxygenase sMMO – Soluble Methane Monoxygenase

Advantages of using ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) Oxidize methane to methanol via the nonspecific action of the enzyme ammonia monooxygenase Contaminants such as moisture and CO2 do not post a limitation for biological conversion Can utilize the CO2 contained in gas mixtures for cell synthesis

Metabolism of AOB

Methanol Production by AOB Methanol production rate varies for conditions and performance Maximum specific productivity is 0.82 mg methanol/ mg biomass (COD)/d

Industrial Challenges Microorganisms are limited. Inhibition on cell growth by H2S when methane in biogas is used. High-cost electron donors required for conversions Gas-Liquid Mass transfer limitations NH3 may inhibit the growth of microorganisms including methanotrophs

Potential Strategies Microbial electrosynthesis Methanotrophic strains from AD systems Genetic engineering of ANME Potential Strategies Changes in the reactor design by using Trickling biofilters for enhanced methane supply

Outlook for Microbial Conversion

Batch and Semi-batch Production

Membrane Semi-batch Process

Methanol Production Results

References Fei, Q. G., Michael. Tao, Ling. Laurens, Lieve. Dowe, Nancy. Pienk, Philip T.os. (2014). Bioconversion of natural gas to liquid fuel: Opportunities and challenges. 32(3), 596–614. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2014.03.011 Ge, X., Yang, L., Sheets, J. P., Yu, Z., & Li, Y. (2014). Biological conversion of methane to liquid fuels: Status and opportunities. Biotechnology Advances, 32, 1460-1475. doi: - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2014.09.004 Pen, N. S., L. Belleville, M.-P. Sanchez, J. Charmette, C. Paolucci-Jeanjean, D. (2014). An innovative membrane bioreactor for methane biohydroxylation. Bioresource Technology, 174, 42–52. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.001 Thorn, G. J. S. (2005). Development of an Immobilized Nitrosomonas europaea Bioreactor for the Production of Methanol from Methane - thesis_fulltext.pdf. Department of Chemical Process Engineering. University of Canterbury. Retrieved from http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/1867/1/thesis_fulltext.pdf