Generating clean energy while getting rid of greenhouse gases from the environment will be possible, thanks to one small bacteria doing all the heavy lifting. This is according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Microbiology.?
Also Read:?Cows Who Eat Seaweed Release 20% Less Methane As Fart And Burps, Finds Study
Candidatus methanoperedens -- a methane eating bacteria that grows naturally in freshwater can be helpful in generating power inside the lab. It is mostly found in locations where surface and groundwater are contaminated with nitrogen as they need nitrate to break down methane.?
Researchers initially wanted to learn about the conversion process that occurs inside the microorganism. They also wanted to see if this could help generate energy via the biogas route and hopefully find a way to increase achievable capacity using better microorganisms.?
Researchers in the past had shown that it was possible to generate power using anammox bacteria that uses ammonium during the process instead of methane. Researchers using the same idea developed a battery of sorts with two terminals where one is a biological one and the other is a chemical one.?
Also Read:?Cows May Actually Help Reduce Global Warming, As They Put Carbon Back Into Soil They Graze On
Bacteria is grown on one of the electrodes and this bacteria donates electrons that cause the conversion of methane. Researchers, using this method, managed to convert 31 percent of methane into electricity.?
While it¡¯s groundbreaking, it¡¯s not the most efficient method yet. Researchers reveal that they¡¯ll continue on improving the system further to make it more efficient.
Keep visiting?Indiatimes.com?for the latest?science and technology?news.