Methane emissions are the second largest cause of climate change, after carbon dioxide. Methane also has about 34 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Methane emissions come mostly from highly distributed sources such as barns, gas pipelines, and coal mines, and the methane concentration in these emissions is too low to be used for energy. Biofilters are made of columns packed with a support material and colonized by microbes, some of which can convert methane into carbon dioxide. By studying and improving both the support material and the microbial community, we are developing a biofiltration system that can mitigate methane emissions and capture the generated carbon dioxide.
Resulting Funding
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Biofilters for Methane Mitigation from Livestock Facilities, $300,000, Bioprocessing and Bioengineering, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
