Methane-Producing Microbial Community in a Coal Bed of the Illinois Basin

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 74; no. 8; pp. 2424 - 2432
• Main Authors: Strąpoć, Dariusz, Picardal, Flynn W, Turich, Courtney, Schaperdoth, Irene, Macalady, Jennifer L, Lipp, Julius S, Lin, Yu-Shih, Ertefai, Tobias F, Schubotz, Florence, Hinrichs, Kai-Uwe, Mastalerz, Maria, Schimmelmann, Arndt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01-04-2008; American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• Subjects: 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 03 NATURAL GAS; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; Basins; BIODEGRADATION; Biological and medical sciences; CARBON DIOXIDE; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Coal; Coal - microbiology; COAL DEPOSITS; DNA, Archaeal - chemistry; DNA, Archaeal - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GEOCHEMISTRY; HYDROGEN; Hydrogen - metabolism; Illinois; ILLINOIS BASIN; Membrane Lipids - analysis; METHANE; Methane - biosynthesis; Methanocorpusculum; METHANOGENIC BACTERIA; Methanomicrobiales - classification; Methanomicrobiales - genetics; Methanomicrobiales - isolation & purification; Methanomicrobiales - metabolism; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; MICROORGANISMS; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Molecular Sequence Data; Organic Chemicals - metabolism; ORGANIC MATTER; ORIGIN; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; USA; Illinois; Illinois River; Methane; Microbial community; Coal
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336; 1098-6596
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02341-07

A series of molecular and geochemical studies were performed to study microbial, coal bed methane formation in the eastern Illinois Basin. Results suggest that organic matter is biodegraded to simple molecules, such as H₂ and CO₂, which fuel methanogenesis and the generation of large coal bed methane reserves. Small-subunit rRNA analysis of both the in situ microbial community and highly purified, methanogenic enrichments indicated that Methanocorpusculum is the dominant genus. Additionally, we characterized this methanogenic microorganism using scanning electron microscopy and distribution of intact polar cell membrane lipids. Phylogenetic studies of coal water samples helped us develop a model of methanogenic biodegradation of macromolecular coal and coal-derived oil by a complex microbial community. Based on enrichments, phylogenetic analyses, and calculated free energies at in situ subsurface conditions for relevant metabolisms (H₂-utilizing methanogenesis, acetoclastic methanogenesis, and homoacetogenesis), H₂-utilizing methanogenesis appears to be the dominant terminal process of biodegradation of coal organic matter at this location.