Optimization of biogenic methane production from coal

Fuertez, John; Nguyen, Van; McLennan, John D.; Adams, D. Jack; Han, Kyu-Bum; Sparks, Taylor D.

doi:10.1016/j.coal.2017.09.014

Title: Optimization of biogenic methane production from coal

Journal Article · Fri Sep 29 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · International Journal of Coal Geology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2017.09.014· OSTI ID:1415144

Fuertez, John ^[1];

^[1]; McLennan, John D. ^[2]; Adams, D. Jack ^[3]; Han, Kyu-Bum ^[4]; Sparks, Taylor D. ^[4]

Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Energy and Geoscience Inst., Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
Inotec Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States). Dept. of Materials Science Engineering

Given continuously increasing global energy needs, diversified efforts have been made to find and exploit new natural gas resources. These include coalbed methane (CBM), which represents an important global, unconventional source of natural gas. Efforts have been underway for some time to more effectively generate methane in-situ in coal plays by introduction of nutrients and/or microbial consortia. However, much is still to be learned about the limitations and environmental conditions that support microbial growth and are conducive to biogenic methane production from coal. Here we evaluated environmental conditions that led to increased methane production from subbituminous coal by introducing a foreign methanogenic consortium that included Methanobacterium sp. Furthermore, we used a central composite design (CCD) to explore a broad range of operational conditions, examine the effects of the important environmental factors, such as temperature, pH and salt concentration, and query a feasible region of operation to maximize methane production from coal. An anticipated detrimental effect of NaCl concentration on methane production was observed for the consortium assessed. The range of feasible operational conditions comprised initial pH values between 4.2 and 6.8, temperatures between 23 °C and 37 °C, and NaCl concentrations between 3.7 mg/cm³ and 9.0 mg/cm³. Coal biogasification was optimal for this consortium at an initial pH value of 5.5, at 30 °C, and at a NaCl concentration 3.7 mg/cm³ (i.e., 145,165 ppm, which is 25.6 sft³/ton).

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0024088

OSTI ID:: 1415144

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1549275

Journal Information:: International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 183, Issue C; ISSN 0166-5162

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 12 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (44)

Response surface methodology (RSM) as a tool for optimization in analytical chemistry Bezerra, Marcos Almeida; Santelli, Ricardo Erthal; Oliveira, Eliane Padua Talanta, Vol. 76, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2008.05.019	journal	September 2008
Microbial enhancing coal-bed methane generation potential, constraints and mechanism – A mini-review Bao, Yuan; Huang, Haiping; He, Dashuang Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Vol. 35 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.08.035	journal	September 2016
Investigation of coal-associated bacterial and archaeal populations from a diffusive microbial sampler (DMS) Barnhart, Elliott P.; De León, Kara Bowen; Ramsay, Bradley D. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 115 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2013.03.006	journal	August 2013
Acetogens and Acetoclastic Methanosarcinales Govern Methane Formation in Abandoned Coal Mines Beckmann, Sabrina; Lueders, Tillmann; Krüger, Martin Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 77, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02818-10	journal	June 2011
Methanogen Population of an Oil Production Skimmer Pit and the Effects of Environmental Factors and Substrate Availability on Methanogenesis and Corrosion Rates Conlette, Okoro Chuma; Emmanuel, Nwezza Elebe; Chijoke, Okpokwasili Gideon Microbial Ecology, Vol. 72, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-016-0764-2	journal	April 2016
Biogenic methane in shale gas and coal bed methane: A review of current knowledge and gaps Colosimo, Fabrizio; Thomas, Russell; Lloyd, Jonathan R. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2016.08.011	journal	August 2016
Studies on biogas production by anaerobic process using agroindustrial wastes [Studies on biogas production by anaerobic process using agroindustrial wastes] Elaiyaraju, P.; Partha, N. Research in Agricultural Engineering, Vol. 62, Issue No. 2 https://doi.org/10.17221/65/2013-RAE	journal	June 2016
Assortment of carbon sources in medium for Yarrowia lipolytica lipase production: A statistical approach Fabiszewska, Agata Urszula; Kotyrba, Danuta; Nowak, Dorota Annals of Microbiology, Vol. 65, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-014-0988-7	journal	October 2014
Feasibility of microbial production of new natural gas from non-gas-producing lignite Fallgren, Paul H.; Zeng, Cuiping; Ren, Zhiyong International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 115 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2013.03.003	journal	August 2013
Methanogenic pathways of coal-bed gas in the Powder River Basin, United States: The geologic factor Flores, Romeo M.; Rice, Cynthia A.; Stricker, Gary D. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 76, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2008.02.005	journal	October 2008
Investigation into the effect of high concentrations of volatile fatty acids in anaerobic digestion on methanogenic communities Franke-Whittle, Ingrid H.; Walter, Andreas; Ebner, Christian Waste Management, Vol. 34, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.07.020	journal	November 2014
Effects of increasing temperatures on methane concentrations and methanogenesis during experimental incubation of sediments from oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes: Temperature Effects on CH Fuchs, Andrea; Lyautey, Emilie; Montuelle, Bernard Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Vol. 121, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JG003328	journal	May 2016
Developing methanogenic microbial consortia from diverse coal sources and environments Fuertez, John; Boakye, Richard; McLennan, John Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Vol. 46 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2017.07.028	journal	October 2017
Ecophysiological adaptations of anaerobic bacteria to low pH: analysis of anaerobic digestion in acidic bog sediments. Goodwin, S.; Zeikus, J. G. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 53, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.53.1.57-64.1987	journal	January 1987
Characterization of a methanogenic consortium enriched from a coalbed methane well in the Powder River Basin, U.S.A. Green, Michael S.; Flanegan, Keith C.; Gilcrease, Patrick C. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 76, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2008.05.001	journal	October 2008
A contribution of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis to the biogenic coal bed methane reserves of Southern Qinshui Basin, China Guo, Hongguang; Yu, Zhisheng; Thompson, Ian P. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 98, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5908-z	journal	July 2014
Biogas production from coal via anaerobic fermentation Gupta, Priyanka; Gupta, Asha Fuel, Vol. 118 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.10.075	journal	February 2014
Shift of pathways during initiation of thermophilic methanogenesis at different initial pH Hao, Li-Ping; Lü, Fan; Li, Lei Bioresource Technology, Vol. 126 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.12.072	journal	December 2012
Microbial and chemical factors influencing methane production in laboratory incubations of low-rank subsurface coals Harris, Steve H.; Smith, Richard L.; Barker, Charles E. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 76, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2008.05.019	journal	October 2008
Life in the slow lane; biogeochemistry of biodegraded petroleum containing reservoirs and implications for energy recovery and carbon management Head, Ian M.; Gray, Neil D.; Larter, Stephen R. Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol. 5 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00566	journal	November 2014
Stimulation of Methane Generation from Nonproductive Coal by Addition of Nutrients or a Microbial Consortium Jones, E. J. P.; Voytek, M. A.; Corum, M. D. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 76, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00728-10	journal	September 2010
Response surface methodology Khuri, André I.; Mukhopadhyay, Siuli Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Computational Statistics, Vol. 2, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/wics.73	journal	March 2010
Shift from Acetoclastic to H2-Dependent Methanogenesis in a West Siberian Peat Bog at Low pH Values and Isolation of an Acidophilic Methanobacterium Strain Kotsyurbenko, O. R.; Friedrich, M. W.; Simankova, M. V. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 73, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02413-06	journal	February 2007
Methanogenic potential of a thermophilic consortium enriched from coal mine Lavania, Meeta; Cheema, Simrita; Sarma, Priyangshu Manab International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Vol. 93 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.05.022	journal	September 2014
Effects of salinity on methanogenic decomposition Liu, Yitai; Boone, David R. Bioresource Technology, Vol. 35, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-8524(91)90124-3	journal	January 1991
Effect of temperature on the structure and activity of a methanogenic archaeal community during rice straw decomposition Lu, Yue; Fu, Li; Lu, Yahai Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Vol. 81 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.10.031	journal	February 2015
Microbial methanogenesis in subsurface oil and coal Meslé, Margaux; Dromart, Gilles; Oger, Philippe Research in Microbiology, Vol. 164, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2013.07.004	journal	November 2013
Influence of temperature and high acetate concentrations on methanogenensis in lake sediment slurries: Temperature influence on methanogenesis in lake sediment Nozhevnikova, Alla N.; Nekrasova, Valeria; Ammann, Adrian FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol. 62, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2007.00389.x	journal	December 2007
Microbial production of methane and carbon dioxide from lignite, bituminous coal, and coal waste materials Opara, A.; Adams, D. J.; Free, M. L. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 96-97 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2012.02.010	journal	July 2012
Organic intermediates in the anaerobic biodegradation of coal to methane under laboratory conditions Orem, William H.; Voytek, Mary A.; Jones, Elizabeth J. Organic Geochemistry, Vol. 41, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2010.03.005	journal	September 2010
Biogenic methane potential for Surat Basin, Queensland coal seams Papendick, Samuel L.; Downs, Kajda R.; Vo, Khang D. International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 88, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2011.09.005	journal	November 2011
Biogenic methane production from coal: A review on recent research and development on microbially enhanced coalbed methane (MECBM) Park, Stephen Y.; Liang, Yanna Fuel, Vol. 166 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.10.121	journal	February 2016
Effect of sodium chloride on growth and methane production of methanogens Patel, G. B.; Roth, L. A. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Vol. 23, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1139/m77-131	journal	July 1977
Development of a microbial process for methane generation from bituminous coal at thermophilic conditions Rathi, Rohit; Priya, Anchal; Vohra, Mustafa International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 147-148 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2015.06.004	journal	August 2015
Enhanced microbial coalbed methane generation: A review of research, commercial activity, and remaining challenges Ritter, Daniel; Vinson, David; Barnhart, Elliott International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 146 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2015.04.013	journal	July 2015
Isolation and characterization of oligotrophic acido-tolerant methanogenic consortia from a Sphagnum peat bog Sizova, Maria V.; Panikov, Nicolai S.; Tourova, Tatiana P. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol. 45, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-6496(03)00165-X	journal	August 2003
Salinity Constraints on Subsurface Archaeal Diversity and Methanogenesis in Sedimentary Rock Rich in Organic Matter Waldron, P. J.; Petsch, S. T.; Martini, A. M. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 73, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02810-06	journal	April 2007
Methane production from lignite through the combined effects of exogenous aerobic and anaerobic microflora Wang, Baoyu; Tai, Chao; Wu, Li International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 173 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2017.02.012	journal	March 2017
Field and laboratory studies on the bioconversion of coal to methane in the San Juan Basin Wawrik, Boris; Mendivelso, Margarita; Parisi, Victoria A. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol. 81, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01272.x	journal	January 2012
Biological production of methane from bituminous coal Volkwein, J. C.; Schoeneman, A. L.; Clausen, E. G. Fuel Processing Technology, Vol. 40, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-3820(94)90156-2	journal	November 1994
Effect of short term external perturbations on bacterial ecology and activities in a partial nitritation and anammox reactor Wu, Sha; Bhattacharjee, Ananda S.; Weissbrodt, David G. Bioresource Technology, Vol. 219 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.07.118	journal	November 2016
Characterizing microbial communities dedicated for conversion of coal to methane in situ and ex situ Zhang, Ji; Liang, Yanna; Pandey, Rohit International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 146 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2015.05.001	journal	July 2015
Optimization of methane production from bituminous coal through biogasification Zhang, Ji; Liang, Yanna; Harpalani, Satya Applied Energy, Vol. 183 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.08.153	journal	December 2016
Finding cost-effective nutrient solutions and evaluating environmental conditions for biogasifying bituminous coal to methane ex situ Zhang, Ji; Park, Stephen Y.; Liang, Yanna Applied Energy, Vol. 165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.067	journal	March 2016

Cited By (2)

Bioelectrochemical Enhancement of Biogenic Methane Conversion of Coal Piao, Dong-Mei; Song, Young-Chae; Kim, Dong-Hoon Energies, Vol. 11, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102577	journal	September 2018
Contribution of Yeast Extract, Activated Carbon, and an Electrostatic Field to Interspecies Electron Transfer for the Bioelectrochemical Conversion of Coal to Methane Piao, Dong-Mei; Song, Young-Chae; Oh, Gyung-Geun Energies, Vol. 12, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.3390/en12214051	journal	October 2019

Similar Records

Ceramic Proppant Design for In-situ Microbially Enhanced Methane Recovery

Technical Report · Fri Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2017 · OSTI ID:1415144

Sparks, Taylor D.; Mclennan, John; Fuertez, John; +1 more

Developing methanogenic microbial consortia from diverse coal sources and environments

Journal Article · Fri Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering · OSTI ID:1415144

Fuertez, John; Boakye, Richard; McLennan, John; +3 more

The Coal-Seq III Consortium. Advancing the Science of CO₂ Sequestration in Coal Seam and Gas Shale Reservoirs

Technical Report · Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · OSTI ID:1415144

Koperna, George

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
Optimization
Microbial consortium
Methanogenesis
CBM
Methane

Title: Optimization of biogenic methane production from coal

Citation Formats

References (44)

Cited By (2)

Similar Records

Related Subjects