Harnessing Carbon: A Review of Current Technologies for Transforming Methane into Value-added Products

Summary

This document reviews current technologies for transforming methane (CH4) into value-added products, addressing the rapid increase in greenhouse gases. Methane, being 21 times more potent than CO2 in heat trapping and having increased from 1219 ppb to 1842 ppb between 1961 and 2021, is a significant concern. The review highlights bioreactors using methanotrophs to convert methane into bioplastics like polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and methanol, noting methane's cost-effectiveness (12 times cheaper than sugar). Studies demonstrated PHB production yields between 2.2-4.8% in CSTRs and 11-32% in Taylor flow bioreactors, with Inverse Membrane Bioreactors achieving a 37% maximum CH4 conversion rate and methanol concentrations up to 3.7 mM after 6 hours. These technologies hold promise for climate change mitigation and developing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

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Source Document

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