BioFlüssigGas: Biologische Flüssiggaserzeugung im Labor

Abstract

BioFlüssigGas was motivated by observations in deep subseafloor sediments that suggest the existence of pathways for the biological formation of ethane and propane in the deep biosphere (Hinrichs et al., 2006). The biochemical pathways for the production of C2 and C3 hydrocarbons probably proceeds via the reduction of acetate. This finding upsets the general belief that hydrocarbons larger than methane derive only from thermal degradation of fossil organic material. The biological production of higher hydrocarbon gases on a technological scale would be highly interesting since these gases are more energy rich than methane and used as hydrocarbon fuels in the form of liquefied petroleum gas. With this project we aim to study the biological formation of ethane and propane and the involved microorganisms in laboratory based experiments. The establishment of an experimental set-up that allows to simulate the high pressures and temperatures of subseafloor environments and the test of different substrates are central goals of this project.

Publications

Lin, Y.-S., Heuer, V.B., Ferdelman, T.G., and Hinrichs, K.-U. (2010) Microbial formation of methylated sulfides in the anoxic sediment of Lake Plußsee, Germany, Biogeosciences, 7, 2433–2444. doi:10.5194/bg-7-2433-2010