The microbial diversity of methanogenic cultures enriched from Alberta coal samples and amended with nutrients.
The microbial diversity of methanogenic cultures enriched from Alberta coal samples and amended with nutrients.
We are investigating and developing technology to enhance biogenic methane production, or methanogenesis, in deep unmineable coal beds.  The technology would involve the injection of nutrients into the coal beds as extensive laboratory-based studies have confirmed the introduction of a suitable nutrient stimulates the growth and activity of indigenous methanogenic consortia, leading to real-time generation of new methane from coal.  Very little is still known of the microbial ecology of deep subsurface coal environments.  Yet, it is important to understand the microbial ecology and methanogenesis processes so that in-situ conditions can be modified to enahnce microbial methane production to economical levels.  This project is investigating how the microbial population found in coal seams respond and change to the addition of nutrients.  The outcomes of the reseach are to improve our understanding of how biogenic methane is formed and how to optimize its recovery from coal beds. This research was supported by funding from Genome Canada, Genome Alberta, the Government of Alberta and Genome BC.
The goals of this study is to investigate how the addition of complex nitrogen-based nutrient to methanogenic cultures enriched from coal enhances methane production and how it affects the microbial diversity of the culture.