Guwahati: IIT Guwahati has developed an advanced biological method to convert methane and carbon dioxide into cleaner biofuels using methanotrophic bacteria. This innovative approach represents a significant leap toward sustainable energy solutions and climate change mitigation.
The research, co-authored by Debasish Das and Krishna Kalyani Sahoo, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, addresses two pressing global challenges: the harmful environmental impact of greenhouse gases and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves.
Methane, a greenhouse gas that is 27-30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is a significant contributor to global warming. While turning methane and carbon dioxide into liquid fuels can reduce emissions and provide renewable energy existing chemical methods are energy-intensive, expensive, and produce toxic by-products, limiting their scalability.
The team at IIT Guwahati has developed a fully biological process that uses Methylosinus trichosporium, a type of methanotrophic bacteria, to convert methane and carbon dioxide into bio-methanol under mild operating conditions. Unlike traditional chemical methods, this process eliminates the need for expensive catalysts, avoids toxic by-products, and operates in a more energy-efficient manner.
ALSO READ: Lt General Raghu Srinivasan Reviews Border Road Projects In NE India
The bio-methanol produced was blended with diesel (5-20 percent ratios) and tested in a four-stroke diesel engine. Key results include up to 87 percent reduction in carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide, and smoke emissions. Diesel-methanol blends outperformed pure diesel in fuel consumption, energy efficiency, and engine performance while maintaining similar mechanical efficiency.
Debasish Das, a professor from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, said, "This research is a breakthrough as it demonstrates that bio-methanol, derived from bacteria feeding on methane and carbon dioxide, can be a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Unlike conventional biofuels that rely on crops and create competition with food production, our method uses greenhouse gases, avoiding the 'food vs. fuel' issue. This process offers immense potential to decarbonise critical industries, including oil and gas, refineries, and chemical manufacturing, paving the way for a more sustainable future".
FIRST Business Portal addressing the potential of business capability of North East Region.
