CO2 to natural gas (CH4) conversion in methanogen-mineral systems: the role of mineral type

Abstract

Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, the need for both archaella and pili for attachment of Methanoccocus maripaludis to mineral surfaces has been well established. In addition, the uses for these pili and/or archaella are still not completely understood, but it has been proposed that they could function to preferentially attach to conductive surfaces allowing for electron shuttling. In reactors containing minerals of varying mineral electrical conductivity -pyrite galena kaolinite quartzlimestone- wildtype M. maripaludis (Mm900) and non-archaellated mutant (∆flaB2) were examined in H2-rich and H2-limited environments to determine trends in early-stage methanogenesis. Building on these trends, a kinetic model of these early-stage trend was created based on the fitted parameters (c, k, and t1/2).