Methane Conversion and Byproduct Determination in a Hollow Scaffold Solid State Bioreactor

Summary

This research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory addresses the rapidly increasing atmospheric concentrations of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), with CH4 trapping heat 21 times more effectively than CO2. A Hollow Scaffold Solid State Bioreactor (HS-SSBR) was developed, using 3D-printed scaffolds (100 mm length, 3.5 mm diameter) within a 0.3 L bioreactor to immobilize methanotrophs. The system showed a reduction in methane concentration within the first 4 hours of closed-loop recirculation, with consumption rates increasing after Day 7. The methanotrophs successfully converted methane into by-products such as formate (8.42 ppm) and acetate (1.88 ppm), as confirmed by 1H-NMR, presenting a promising biological solution for methane mitigation.

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