Electricity from methane by Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b.

Kalimuthu Jawaharraj, Saurabh Sudha Dhiman, Sierra Bedwell, Bhuvan Vemuri, Jamil Islam, Rajesh Kumar Sani, Venkataramana Gadhamshetty

Bioresource technology 2021 Feb

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Given the difficulties valorizing methane (CH4) via catalytic routes, this study explores use of CH4-oxidizing bacteria ("methanotrophs") for generating electricity directly from CH4. A preconditioned methanotrophic biofilm on 3D nickel foam with reduced graphene oxide (rGO/Ni) was used as the anode in two-compartment microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study demonstrates a proof of concept for turning CH4 into electricity by two model methanotrophs including Methylosinus trichosposium OB3b and Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Both OB3b (205 mW.m-2) and Bath (110 mW.m-2) strains yielded a higher electricity from CH4 when grown on rGO/Ni compared to graphite felt electrodes. Based on electrochemistry tests, molecular dynamics simulations, genome annotations and interaction analysis, a mechanistic understanding of reasons behind enhanced performance of methanotrophs grown on rGO/Ni are presented. Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Kalimuthu Jawaharraj, Saurabh Sudha Dhiman, Sierra Bedwell, Bhuvan Vemuri, Jamil Islam, Rajesh Kumar Sani, Venkataramana Gadhamshetty. Electricity from methane by Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Bioresource technology. 2021 Feb;321:124398