Methanogen consortium metabolism characteristic analysis of Illinois basin by real time monitor method

Abstract

Microbially Enhance Coalbed Methane technology is used to improve methane content in coalbeds. The methanogen consortium metabolism process is the basic avenue for MECoM to yield methane with some organic compounds in coal. Detailed information about the metabolism process is needed in studying the microbial consortium mechanism. Traditional gas analysis is limited by gas source and test complexity. The real time monitor with Infrared gas sensor breaks the gas analysis limitation. It shows much more detailed information than the traditional analysis method including information about microbial growth factor changes, reaction speeds for environmental changes, the detailed relationship between CH4 and CO2, methane yield and the consumption factor by real time. With these factors, MECoM can be much better evaluated and controlled. Experiments show that inhibitory and incentive effects will influence the whole organic material conversion to methane period. Not until a microbial community achieves a balanced condition, can methane generation reach a stable condition.