Utilization of coal mine methane for methanol and SCP production. Topical report, May 5, 1995--March 4, 1996

Technical Report · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/565265· OSTI ID:565265

The feasibility of utilizing a biological process to reduce methane emissions from coal mines and to produce valuable single cell protein (SCP) and/or methanol as a product has been demonstrated. The quantities of coal mine methane from vent gas, gob wells, premining wells and abandoned mines have been determined in order to define the potential for utilizing mine gases as a resource. It is estimated that 300 MMCFD of methane is produced in the United States at a typical concentration of 0.2-0.6 percent in ventilation air. Of this total, almost 20 percent is produced from the four Jim Walter Resources (JWR) mines, which are located in very gassy coal seams. Worldwide vent gas production is estimated at 1 BCFD. Gob gas methane production in the U.S. is estimated to be 38 MMCFD. Very little gob gas is produced outside the U.S. In addition, it is estimated that abandoned mines may generate as much as 90 MMCFD of methane. In order to make a significant impact on coal mine methane emissions, technology which is able to utilize dilute vent gases as a resource must be developed. Purification of the methane from the vent gases would be very expensive and impractical. Therefore, the process application must be able to use a dilute methane stream. Biological conversion of this dilute methane (as well as the more concentrated gob gases) to produce single cell protein (SCP) and/or methanol has been demonstrated in the Bioengineering Resources, Inc. (BRI) laboratories. SCP is used as an animal feed supplement, which commands a high price, about $0.11 per pound.

• Research Organization: Bioengineering Resources, Inc., Fayetteville, AR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-95MC32187
• OSTI ID: 565265
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/32187--5651; ON: DE97002284
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
BIOCONVERSION
COAL MINES
MARKET
METHANE
METHANOL
PROGRESS REPORT
SINGLE CELL PROTEIN