Casey Pape, WERC Research Technician

Energy from Psychrophilic Bacteria: A Cold-Region Alternative for Biogas

June 21, 2011

Institute of Northern Engineering University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Climate-limitation of conventional biogas production

(59°F)

Talk Summary• Motivating research and goals of this project

– Assistant Professor Katey Walter Anthony, UAF– Thomas H. Culhane, Solar Cities

• Introduction to small-scale Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology and its usage around the globe

• Cordova Biogas Project– Summary of the Research – Student Involvement and Participation– Data Summary

• Limitations and Future of the Technology for Alaskans • Q&A Discussion

Project Goal and Summary

“Improve conventional anaerobic digester efficiency through use of psychrophilic (cold adapted) bacteria found in arctic lake sediments in Alaska to provide cooking and heating fuel for Alaskan households”

2009 Emerging Explorers

Grace Gobbo, Ethnobotanist

TH Culhane, Urban Planner

Beverly Goodman, Geo-Archaeologist

Kristofer Helgen, Zoologist

Shafqat Hussain, Conservationist

Malik Marjan, Wildlife Biologist and Conservationist

Katsufumi Sato, Behavioral Ecologist

Katey Walter Anthony, Aquatic Ecologist and Biogeochemist

Michael Wesch, Cultural Anthropologist and Media Ecologist

Nathan Wolfe, Epidemiologist

Dr. Katey Walter Anthony (Principal Investigator)INE UAF

• Expert in cold-temperature methane production in Arctic systems (Alaska & Siberia); 9 years methane; 13 years Arctic lakes/organic materials

• Agricultural/applied methane research 2 years

• Principal Investigator, $2.6M in grants for methane-related research since 2007

• Publication of methane results (selected): Walter, K. M. et al. 2006, Nature 443, 71-75Walter, K. M. et al. 2007, Phil. Trans. Royal Society A, 365: 1657-1676Walter, K. M. et al. 2007, Science 318: 633-636Walter, K. M., et al. 2008, JGR 113, G00A08,doi:10.1029/2007JG000569Walter Anthony, K. M. 2009, Scientific American, Nov. issue

• Alaska resident since 2000

• National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer (named in 2009)

• Public outreach (selected): NPR, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Discover Magazine, New York Times, LA Times, National Geographic, BBC

Photo Credit: Dragos Vas

Thomas Henry CulhaneExpert Consultant - Solar Cities

•8 years teaching applied science (renewable energy/biofuels/biology/ chemistry as a vocational/academic partnership) in the ghettoes of Los Angeles. 6 years working with Muslim and Christian poor in Cairo.

• Board of Directors and instructor/designer at Egyptian Environmental Science Center 3 years

• Solar CITIES Co-founder/director, German NGO specialized in „Connecting Community Catalysts Integrating Technologies for Industrial Ecology Systems“ (most recently implemented $25,000 U.S. AID small infrastructure renewable energy grant in the slums of Cairo, Egypt)

• Publication of development work (selected): Culhane, T. and Selim, T , Chapter 8: Solar Energy in Egypt: A Question of Behavioral Economics in Egypt and the Environment, AUC Press

•National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer (2009)

• Public outreach (selected): NPR, National Geographic, ABC News, McGraw-Hill, Business Week, CBS' How'd They Do That“, NBC „Save our Streets“, KCOP „Sprocket Science“ Sun and Wind Energy Magazine, Papyrus Magazine, UCLA Graduate Quarterly

• B.A. Harvard, Biological Anthropology

• M.A., Ph.D. Cand. UCLA. Urban Planning, Regional, International Development. TH and Sybille Culhane at home with their digestor in

Cairo, Egypt

BiogasBiogas is a flammable gas created by bacterial degradation of organic matter, roughly:

~60% methane (CH4)~35% carbon dioxide (CO2)

~5% other gases

Biogas can be used to fuel gas-burning technologies:

- stoves- heaters- lights- electrical generators

Target Molecule

Technology Overview

Anaerobic Digestion Multistep process in which bacteria

obtain their energy by consuming organic material in a none oxygen environment.

Whereas the end products of aerobic respiration are mostly carbon dioxide and water, anaerobic digestion results in the formation of carbon dioxide and methane (CH4) – a high energy, flammable gas.

Types bacteria which produce methane as a waste product are aptly named methanogens

Organic Material

Monomers

C-1 Compounds, H2

Acetate

Fatty acids, alcohols

CH4, CO2

1

1

1

1

2

3

4

4

Metabolic pathway for biogas production

Methanogens

Yoshinori Murata, et al., Extremophiles (2006) 10:117–128

Horiike T, Miyata D, Hamada K, et al. (January 2009). Gene 429 (1-2): 59–64.

Metanogenic bacteria (i.e. methanogens) exist globally, in many different climates. Based on the temperature environment in which they live, methanogens fall under three main categories:

Thermophilic - Hot environments, between 45 and 80 °C (113 and 176 °F).

Mesophilic - Moderate temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold, typically between 25 and 40 °C (77 and 104 °F).

Psychrophilic - Cold temperatures, ranging from −15°C to +15°C.

“Both thermophilic and psychrophilic bacteria belong to a category of organisms known as exteremophiles as they live in conditions not suitable for most life on earth.”

NASA and STScI

How can we use methanogens to produce a low-cost, sustainable supply of biogas as an alternative energy source?

Mimic their natural optimal environment and methanogens will naturally supply a continual source of biogas.

PermafrostThaw bulb

Peat

Methane production

Permafrost

Massive ice

wedge

Dead plant & animal remains

Methane emission

PermafrostThaw bulb

Peat

Methane production

Permafrost

Massive ice

wedge

Dead plant & animal remains

Methane emission

Photo Credit: Laurel McFadden Walter et al. Nature 2006

Basic (ARTI-style) biogas digestor design

Feedstock

Gas outlet with gas flow meter(to house)

(Liquid organic

fertilizer)

Appropriate Rural Technology Institute

http://www.arti-india.org/content/view/45/52/

Alternative Designs

Simple biogas plants. Floating-drum plant (A), fixed-dome plant (B),fixed-dome plant with separate gas holder (C), balloon plant (D), channel-type digester with plastic sheeting and sunshade (E).Source: Biogas Plants, L. Sasse, GATE, 1988

drylandfarming.org

R. Seifert

drylandfarming.org

Cordova Biogas ProjectCordova High School - Cordova, AK

Phase 1: Build and deploy six experimental 1000L digesters with mixed bacteria cultures and monitor their daily gas production rates in order to determine differences in efficiency between each consortia.

Daily Food Input = 1kg food (dry weight) + 1kg H2O

Cold Room: 15ºC Warm Room: 25ºC

Psychrophiles

Mixed Psychrophiles and Mesophiles

Mesophiles

Psychrophiles

Mixed Psychrophiles and Mesophiles

Mesophiles

Generated in Google SketchUp ©

Figure 1. Mean hourly temperature of the data loggers in the Connex cold (15 °C) and tepid (25 °C) room, and mean daily outdoor temperature recorded in Cordova. As the temperatures in Cordova began to drop from at the end of summer, the Connex experienced a noticeable and unfavorable drop in temperature. Temperatures are still below their “set” or target values (of 15°C and 25°C respectfully). Both rooms need further heat sources to meet project targets. Biogas project temperatures are measured with Hoboware U22-001 Water Temp Pro V2 loggers recording hourly. Cordova temperature data was obtained from online sources (source: wunderground.com).

Data Summary

Data Summary

Figure 2. Graphical representation of the adjusted data from Y2Q2 report. Trends are more representative of the observations made by researchers on location. Tank overflow is suspected to be a plausible explanation at this time for why the recorded biogas production observed a large decrease from previous measurements in January 2011.

Figure 3. Pictures representing the old and newly installed gas outlet systems. Top) Distended tanks indicating active methanogenesis. The old system (left), which was originally installed on February 19, 2010, was demonstrated to have several leaks common among multiple tanks. The decision to retrofit and install the new system (right) was made on January 9, 2011, following a teleconference among project team members at the CEC boardroom and UAF. The new install was completed as of February 25, 2011. Photo Credit: Casey Pape

Tank Acidification

Figure 4. Results indicate that the pH in Tank 1 fell slightly since Y1Q3 report (currently pH 6.1). We halted daily feeding to allow the opportunity for pH to recover on its own, without reverting to chemical remediation treatments. pH was measured with Macherey-Nagel litmus paper January 21-April 16 2010, and with more precision using an Oakton PC510 pH meter since April 17, 2010 until the present.

Phase 2: Deploy digestor(s) in practical household scale project(s) to operate appliances and an electrical generator to evaluate feasibility and sustainability in an applied setting for widespread use in Alaska

125-150 L day-1 hot water heaterinfrared heater

electrical generator150-300 L meal-1

~1,200 L day-1 = biogas production

gas lights200-300 L hr-1

cook stove

Usage estimates from GTZ

1000 L kWh-1

Student Involvement

Photo Credit: Laurel McFadden

Photo Credit: Adam Low

Photo Credit: Adam Low

Student Involvement

Photo Credit: Adam Low

Photo Credit: Craig Bailer

Photo Credit: Sophie Myers

n

Phase 2

Photo Credit: Casey Pape

Photo Credit: Casey Pape

Photo Credit: Casey Pape

Limitations of the technology • Temperature limiting• Odorous • Potentially high labor inputs• Susceptible to winter freezing conditions• Energy benefit does not meet capital cost at the

small-scale (individual home)• Additional benefits beyond BTU rating will have

to be considered in order to justify small-scale facilities in Alaska

Current Trend (U.S.)

Figure 5. Trends in Energy Production from Anaerobic Digesters – 2001 through 2008.

www.epa.gov/agstar (EPA, 2009)

Future of the Technology in Alaska

Industry (Large-scale)

Vanderhak Dairy Capacity: 600kWhLyden, WA www.andgar.com

Biogas Kristianstad Capacity: 3000 MWh Kristianstad, SE www.kristianstad.se

Bio-Teere Systems, Inc. Capacity: 150kWhE OR

In the Press

Gupta, Sujata (2010-11-06). "Biogas comes in from the cold". New Scientist (London: Sunita Harrington): pp. 14. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827854.000-cold-climates-no-bar-to-biogas-production.html. Retrieved 2011-02-04.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/rural-alaska/8223-biogas-could-bring-new-energy-to-rural-alaska

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/blogwild/2009/10/emerging-explorers-receive-gra.html

http://www.aksenate.org/mcguire/030311EmergingEnergyFund.pdf

ACEP Flyer

Thank you

ReferencesYoshinori Murata, et al., "Genome-wide expression analysis of yeast response during

exposure to 4C," Extremophiles (2006) 10:117–128Horiike T, Miyata D, Hamada K, et al. (January 2009). "Phylogenetic construction of 17

bacterial phyla by new method and carefully selected orthologs". Gene 429 (1-2): 59–64.

Walter, K. M., M. Edwards, G. Grosse, S. A. Zimov, F. Stuart Chapin III, 2007. Thermokarst lakes as a source of atmospheric CH4 during the last deglaciation. Science 318: 633-636.

Walter, K. M., Zimov, S. A., Chanton, J. P., Verbyla, D., and F. S. Chapin III. 2006, Methane Bubbling from Siberian Thaw Lakes as a Positive Feedback to Climate Warming, Nature 443, 71-75.

Gerardi, Michael. The Microbiology of Anaerobic Digesters (New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003), 23 - 45.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/science/earth/11fossil.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=general&src=me

http://www.manuremanager.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3446&Itemid=138

http://www.kristianstad.se/upload/Sprak/dokument/2%20Biogas%20Kristianstad%20brochure%202009.pdf

Figure 5. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) indicates the availability of oxidative molecules and ions in the system. ORP is a valuable measure as it determines the likelihood that bacteria will follow the methane production pathway. For healthy methane production, samples should have an ORP of -300mV. From January 21-April 9, ORP was measured with an Xplorer GLX Pasco PS-2002 Multi-Datalogger. From May 10th 2010, until present it was measured with an Oakton PC510 ORP meter.

Data Summary

Figure 6. DO measurements were taken with an Xplorer GLX Pasco PS-2002 Multi-Datalogger until March 24, following which they have been taken by a Hanna HI9142 DO meter. As of October 1, 2010, the Hanna instrument could no longer be calibrated properly. Proper function was restored after servicing the instrument in December 2010.