Recent Advances in Factors and Methods for Stimulation of Biomethane Production

The role of methanogenesis in the global carbon cycle is very important for recycle of renewable biomass which, has the potential for contribution to independence from fossil fuels. Anaerobic microbes comprised of fermentative and acetogenic species decompose the complex biomass to hydrogen, formate and, acetate that are further metabolized to methane by methanogens. A general review of biogenic production of methane and methanogenic diversity involved is presented. This review gives an overview of recent patents on methane production and focuses mainly on different methods, systems and, microbial methanogenic community involved in anaerobic digestion that can be used for improved understanding of the microbial community function and relationships in methanogenesis.