Week 2: Fungal Growth and Morphogenesis II - 7 - microbial fuels

Question 1

Do microbes have a role in fossil fuel genesis?

Answer 1

YES

Question 2

What is an important fossil fuel?

Answer 2

methane

Question 3

What is the production of methane by microorganisms called?

Answer 3

methanogenesis

Question 4

How do microbes make methane?

Answer 4

reduction of CO2 to CH4
and utilisation of carbon compounds such as acetate.

CO2 + 4H2 –> CH4 + 2H2O

2CH3COO- + 2H+ –> 2CH4 + 2CO2

Question 5

What organism are involved in methanogenesis?

Answer 5

methanogens

Question 6

How do bacteria create petroleum and coal?

Answer 6

Initial partial breakdown of biomass by bacteria and fungi, followed by physicochemical transformation of precursors subjected to heat and pressure

• petroleum generated from algal and cyanobacterial biomass
• coal generated from biomass of pteridophytes and seed-bearing plants

Question 7

How do microbes aid in the formation of natural petroleum reservoirs?

Answer 7

Facilitation of petroleum migration from site of formation to a natural reservoir (e.g., anticlinal fold in sedimentary rock). oil rises to surface but is trapped under rock

oil migration might be assisted by gas formation, from microbial activity and formation of surface-active agents - might act as detergent, emulsifying the oil and aiding migration

Question 8

What is MEOR?

Answer 8

Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery

Question 9

What does MEOR focus on?

Answer 9

Facilitation of oil recovery from reservoir after natural pressure from volatile petroleum constituents has subsided:

By microbially generating gas pressure through in situ fermentation of molasses (CO2, H2)
By microbial synthesis of surface active agents (in situ or ex situ)

Question 10

How can gas pressure be encouraged?

Answer 10

1. By microbially generating gas pressure through in situ fermentation of molasses (CO2, H2)
2. By microbial synthesis of surface active agents (in situ or ex situ)

Question 11

What groups of organisms can degrade fossil fuels? (aerobic)

Answer 11

Methanotrophs (aerobic)

CH4 + 2O2 –> CO2 + 2H2O

(Bacteria)

Question 12

What groups of organisms can degrade fossil fuels? (anerobic)

Answer 12

1) Consortium [Methanosarcinales (Archaea) & Desulfosarcinales (Bacteria)(?)]: (anaerobic)

CH4 + SO42- + 2H+ –> CO2 + H2S + 2H2O

(some Bacteria and Archaea)

2) Hydrocarbon oxidizers (aerobic)

CH3CH2CH2CH3 + 6.5O2 –> 4CO2 + 5H2O

(some Bacteria and Fungi)