Sequestration and Bioconversion of CO2 to Methane

70725 It is important to reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, being discharged into the atmosphere. This project seeks to eliminate carbon dioxide discharges by injecting the carbon dioxide into geologic reservoirs (coal beds). There, the carbon dioxide will be bioconverted into methane by microorganisms that are either indigenous or added to the coal formation along with other essential nutrients. Not only will the discharge of carbon dioxide be reduced but also a value added product, methane, will be produced from the conversion of a "dirty" fuel (coal) into a "clean" fuel (methane). Phase I will be directed toward (1) characterizing and determining the nutritional needs of microflora indigenous to a coal bed and (2) evaluating geological basins for further research. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Injecting carbon dioxide into coal beds and using microorganisms to convert the carbon dioxide and some of the coal to methane should reduce CO2 levels and provide a value-added product.