Electricity from methane by Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Given the difficulties valorizing methane (CH4) via catalytic routes, this study explores use of CH4-oxidizing bacteria (“methanotrophs”) for generating electricity directly from CH4. A preconditioned methanotrophic biofilm on 3D nickel foam with reduced graphene oxide (rGO/Ni) was used as anode in two-compartment microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This demonstrates a proof concept turning CH4 into by two model methanotrophs including Methylosinus trichosposium OB3b and Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Both (205 mW.m?2) Bath (110 strains yielded higher when grown rGO/Ni compared to graphite felt electrodes. Based electrochemistry tests, molecular dynamics simulations, genome annotations interaction analysis, mechanistic understanding reasons behind enhanced performance are presented.