Thermacetogenium phaeum consortium for enhanced methane and hydrogen production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for natural gas production face challenges in transporting liquefied natural gas due to high costs and safety concerns, and developing new sites is hindered by environmental opposition, while microbial enhanced methane production is in its infancy with limited understanding of microorganisms involved in methanogenic hydrocarbon biodegradation.
Innovation Solution
Isolation and cultivation of a microbial consortium including Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize complex hydrocarbon substrates into acetate, followed by conversion into methane, with methods for introducing these microorganisms into hydrocarbon formations to enhance gas production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microbial consortium including Thermacetogenium phaeum is introduced to metabolize complex hydrocarbon substrates, then methane and hydrogen production is enhanced, but the complexity of isolating and cultivating these microorganisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex hydrocarbon degradation process into distinct functional stages by identifying specific microorganisms like Thermacetogenium phaeum that perform particular metabolic functions. This segmentation allows for targeted isolation and cultivation of individual species rather than dealing with complex mixed consortia, thereby enhancing productivity while managing cultivation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary compounds such as acetate as mediators in the metabolic pathway. Thermacetogenium phaeum converts complex hydrocarbons into intermediate compounds like acetate, which are then further metabolized by other microorganisms into methane and hydrogen. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall process by breaking down the complex transformation into manageable steps with identifiable intermediates.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing oil and coal sites are utilized for biogenic gas production, then reliance on foreign natural gas sources is reduced, but the technical infrastructure for extracting and processing the gas must be developed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing existing abandoned oil and coal sites that already possess extraction infrastructure. The microbial process leverages the existing geological formations and residual hydrocarbons in these sites, allowing the system to serve itself by using the infrastructure already in place rather than requiring entirely new construction. This reduces the burden of infrastructure development while achieving energy independence goals.
3Reliability
If Thermacetogenium phaeum is heated to high temperatures during isolation, then spore formation increases survival rate, but the heating process may affect the viability of other microorganisms in the consortium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating formation water to high temperatures before introducing it to the microbial consortium during isolation procedures. This preliminary thermal treatment creates favorable conditions for Thermacetogenium phaeum spore formation and survival while establishing a controlled thermal environment that can be managed to minimize damage to other sensitive microorganisms in the consortium.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Simplifies biogenic gas production by identifying key microorganisms, enabling commercially viable methane and hydrogen production from existing oil and coal sites, potentially meeting national gas demands and reducing reliance on foreign sources.
Implementation Method 1
a first microbial consortium that has Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize a complex hydrocarbon substrate into metabolic products comprising an acetate compound
Implementation Method 2
a second microbial consortium that has a methanogen to convert the acetate compound into a final product comprising methane
Implementation Method 3
heating the formation water to about 120° C. or more, where the Thermacetogenium phaeum, including its spores, survives the heating process
Implementation Method 4
The heating may cause at least some of the Thermacetogenium phaeum to form spores (i.e., to sporulate)
Data Source
AI summary
An isolated microbial consortium is described that includes a first microbial consortium having Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize a complex hydrocarbon substrate into metabolic products comprising an acetate compound. The consortium also includes a second microbial consortium having a methanogen to convert the acetate compound into a final product that includes methane. Also, a method of increasing production of materials with enhanced hydrogen content. The method includes isolating Thermacetogenium phaeum from geologic formation water, culturing the isolated Thermacetogenium phaeum to increase the Thermacetogenium phaeum population, and introducing a consortium of the cultured Thermacetogenium phaeum, which may include spores of Thermacetogenium phaeum, into a hydrocarbon formation containing a complex hydrocarbon substrate.