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

2. Methanotrophs

3. Where Do These Bacteria Live?
Wetlands
Sewage
Lake Basin
Bogs

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

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

6. 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

7. Metabolism of AOB

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Outlook for Microbial Conversion

12. Batch and Semi-batch Production

13. Membrane Semi-batch Process

14. Methanol Production Results

15. 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: /j.biotechadv
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, doi: -
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: /j.biortech
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