Modeling and optimization of synthesis gas production via the non-catalytic partial oxidation of methane (NCPO) were studied by minimizing of Gibbs free energy, and comparison studies were carried out to analyze the mechanism of syngas production. For this purpose, concentrations of CO2 and H2O in the feed were optimized in specified pressure and temperature, such that the hydrogen to carbon mo...

With the actual growth of the natural gas industry in the US as well as the potential and availability of this non-renewable carbon source worldwide, reforming of methane gas is getting increasing attention. Methane can be used for the production of heat or electricity, as well, it can be converted to syngas, a building block that could lead to the production of liquid fuels and chemicals, a ve...

Nineteen tanniferous browse plants were collected from South Africa to investigate their digestibility, gas production (GP) characteristics and methane production. Fresh samples were collected, dried in forced oven, and ground and analyzed for nutrient composition. In vitro GP and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were determined using rumen fluid collected, strained and anaerobical...

The effects of dimethyl ether (DME) addition on the high temperature ignition and burning properties of methane-air mixtures were studied experimentally and numerically. The results showed that for a homogeneous system, a small amount of DME addition to methane resulted in a significant reduction in the high temperature ignition delay. The ignition enhancement effect by DME addition was found t...

Methane-oxidizing bacteria are characterized by their capability to grow on methane as sole source of carbon and energy. Cultivation-dependent and -independent methods have revealed that this functional guild of bacteria comprises a substantial diversity of organisms. In particular the use of cultivation-independent methods targeting a subunit of the particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) as ...

Methane production occurs during hydrogen gas generation in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), particularly when single chamber systems are used which do not keep gases, generated at the cathode, separate from the anode. Few studies have examined the factors contributing to methane gas generation or the main pathway in MECs. It is shown here that methane generation is primarily associated wit...

Methanotrophs are a biological resource as they degrade the greenhouse gas methane and various organic contaminants. Several non-methanotrophic bacteria have shown potential to stimulate growth of methanotrophs when co-cultured, and however, the ecology is largely unknown. Effects of Sphingopyxis sp. NM1 on methanotrophic activity and growth of Methylocystis sp. M6 were investigated in this stu...

Doping of zinc with silver, palladium, and gold was found to increase reactivity towards carbon tetrachloride in water. Commercial zinc dust, cryochemically prepared zinc metal particles (SMAD nanoparticles), and zinc dust pressed into pellets (mechanically activated zinc) were employed. Reduction products detected were methane, ethylene, acetylene, and other hydrocarbons along with products of...

Recent experimental evidence suggests again the existence of the metastable methane anion in plasma swarms. In order to test the reliability of the complete basis set (CBS) extrapolation scheme with augmented correlation-consistent basis sets for anionic molecules, we study the evolution of the electron affinity of methane with benchmark ab initio calculations with aug-cc basis sets up to aug-c...

The effects of several methane-inhibitors on rumen fermentation were compared during three 24h consecutive batch cultures of ruminal microbes in the presence of nonlimiting amounts of hydrogen. After the initial incubation series, methane production was reduced greater than 92% from that of non-treated controls (25.8+/-8.1 micromol ml(-1) incubation fluid) in cultures treated with nitroethane, ...