Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet - FNU - MOBILEX - Electric interspecies interactions under Metanogenic conditions

Project: Research

Project Details

Description

Methane, a potentgreenhouse gas, is also a cost efficient energy sourcegenerated by microorganisms during waste decomposition. The forces behind bio-CH4production aremicrobialinteractions based on metabolite exchangebetweensyntrophic bacteriafermentingwaste organics, and methanogensrecycling the products of the first. So far, H2 was the moststudied type ofmetabolite exchange1. Only recently,researchersdiscovered a new type of electron exchangeby direct electron transfer between species (DIET)2-4 and proposed it was widespread in methanogenic environments5. Yet, little is known about the environmental significance of this type of electron transfer, solearningif DIET is widespread can help us devise new ways to control CH4emissions, turning it on/off as desired, and resolving two major predicaments of the 21st century -waste removal and clean energy production.

Layman's description

Elektriske interaktioner i mikrobiel metanprodution: hvor udbredt er direkte elektronoverf¡rsel mellem mikroorganismer i metanproducerende systemer? Metan, som bnde er en kraftig drivhusgas og en omkostningseffektiv energikilde, dannes ved biologisk nedbrydning af organisk affald. Metanproduktionen foregnr her gennem en udveksling af stofskifteprodukter mellem forgrende bakterier og metandannenede arker, der omstter bakterierenes forgringsprodukter. Indtil nu er brint det bedst unders¡gte mellemprodukt. Nye unders¡gelser har imidlertid overraskende pnvist en helt ny type udveksling baseret pndirekte overf¡rsel af elektroner, og foreslnet, at denne form for syntrofi er af generel betydning i metandannende systemer. Mnlet med dette projekt er at opnnen detaljeret forstnelse for udbredelsen af direkte elektronoverf¡rsel i forskellige milj¡er. Dette er n¡dvendigt for at vi kan udvikle metoder til at kontrollere metanproduktionen efter behov, og hermed bidrage til l¡sningen af to af de st¡rste udfordringer i det 21. nrhunderede -bortskaffelse af affald og ren energiproduktion.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date01/11/201331/12/2015

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