Bioconversion of Lignite to Methane

Bioconversion of Lignite to Methane

With the increasing demand for energy for development and the growing concern for climate change and the need to limit greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary to find out efficient and cleaner ways to utilize our coal reserves.

 There are also many coal seams, which cannot be mined. There are several types of microbes, acting in tandem (as a consortia), which can generate methane from coal and oil. 

A unique consortium of microbes is required for each coal seam/oil reservoir.

 Research is underway to identify the specific consortia that can act on different seams/reservoirs.

OEC had taken the initiative to undertake research on development of biotechnological process for conversion of lignite/ coal to methane gas and humic acid. Humic acid, which increases the availability of soil nutrients, is a good plant growth enhancer and thus finds wide application in agriculture and horticulture.

A collaborative project with IIT-Kharagpur to generate methane and humic acid from lignite in surface conditions as well as in-situ is in progress. The biotechnology for production of methane and humic acid from lignite has been developed in the laboratory. Based on the developed biotechnology, mini-pilot scale studies for surface production of methane and humic acid are in progress.

OEC, along with Gujarat Industries Power Company Ltd. (GIPCL), has taken up initial field experiments on lignite mines at Vastan, Gujarat. Injectivity tests and chemical process of humic acid production have been successfully carried out in the field. Further experiments in deeper lignite seams with full overburden are planned. On successful completion of these experiments, the un-mineable deeper lignite / coal seams and any other thin seams at greater depth can be converted into useful methane.