Research Projects

Circular bioeconomy is the sustainable use of biological resources such as biomass to produce renewable fuels and value-added chemicals. Nowadays, the Indian government is promoting ‘High-Performance Biomanufacturing’ under the Bio-E3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy. Methane and carbon dioxide are the prominent greenhouse gases (GHGs), with methane having 21 times higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Methane is abundantly present in natural gas, and landfill emissions. It is also produced due to combustion of fossil fuel and industrial emissions. Interestingly, methanotrophs such as Methylocella silvestris, Methylocapsa aurea and Methylocystis are a group of bacteria that capable of methane to methanol bioconversion using an enzyme methane monooxygenase (MMOs). There are two types of MMOs: soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) and particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO). Methanotrophs containing pMMO have displayed a higher affinity for methane than sMMO containing cells. However, the extensive use of methanotrophs to produce methanol from methane is limited due to their slow microbial growth kinetics, and low-level expression of MMOs. Consequently, a potential strain and scale-up technology is anticipated to overcome these limitations. The present research proposes a fed-batch bioreactor approach for the valorization of methane to methanol using potential methanotrophs. The project aims to enhance the yield of methanol by tuning the expression of MMOs, and optimizing critical parameters such as media composition, gas-to-liquid mass transfer, dissolved oxygen (DO), and feeding strategies. A key hypothesis is that a controlled methane/oxygen ratio in fed-batch mode, combined with a co-factor recycling system and enzyme expression regulation, can significantly increase methanol production and restrict its further oxidation. Ultimately, a scalable technology for methane valorization will be established to achieve India’s Bio-E3 policy goals of bioeconomy, bioenergy, and environmental sustainability. Significance: • Economy: Methanol production from waste methane gas. • Energy: Contributing towards bioenergy through renewable C1 chemical synthesis. • Environment: Mitigating methane emissions and minimizing dependency on fossil-derived methanol.