BIOMETHANATION

■ Biomethanation/Methanogenesis upsc: 

Methanogenesis/  biomethanation is the formation of methane by microbes known as Methanogenesis. Organisms capable of producing methane have been identified only from the domain Archaea, a group phylogenetically distinct from both eukaryotes and bacteria, although many live in close association with anaerobic bacteria.
• The production of methane is an important and widespread form of microbial metabolism.

In anoxic environments, it is the final step in the decomposition of biomass. Methanogenesis is responsible for significant amounts of natural gas accumulations, the remainder being thermogenic.
• In an all India coordinated project, efforts are on to produce bio-gas for kitchen use and quality manure for fields using bio-methanation of rice straw.
• Six domestic level paddy straw-based bio-gas plants have been installed in Punjab.
•Organic material is microbiologically converted under anaerobic conditions to biogas.
• Three main physiological groups of microorganisms are involved: fermenting bacteria, organic acid oxidizing bacteria, and methanogenic archaea.
• Biomethanation has strong potential for the
production of energy from organic residues and wastes.

■ Stages involves in methanogenesis :----
• Stubble burning is a common practice followed by farmers to prepare fields for sowing of wheat in November as there is little time left between the harvesting of paddy and sowing of wheat.

• Stubble burning results in emission of harmful gases such carbon diaoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide along with particulate matter.
• There is great potential for making investments in paddy strawbased power plants.
• Incorporation of crop residues in the soil can improve soil moisture.

• Convert the removed residues into enriched organic manure through composting.
• New opportunities for industrial use such as extraction of yeast protein can be explored through scientific research.