Context:

According to a new study Methylotuvimicrobium Buryatense 5GB1C could potentially remove methane from major emission sites such as landfills, paddy fields, and oil and gas wells.

Key takeaways of Study:

• The bacterial strain Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C consumes methane , which is over 85 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) on a 20-year timescale and responsible for nearly 30 percent of the total global warming
• Harnessing this bacteria on a large scale can keep 240 million tonnes of methane from reaching the atmosphere by 2050.
• Global average temperature rise can be reduced 0.21-0.22 degree Celsius by removing 0.3-1 petagrams of methane by 2050.
  • Petagram: A unit of mass equal to 10^15 grams. 

Methanotrophs:

• Methane-eating bacteria, also known as methanotrophs, are a group of microorganisms that have the unique ability to utilize methane as their primary source of carbon and energy.
• They play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of methane emissions by converting methane into carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a less potent greenhouse gas.
• Habitat: Methanotrophs are found in various environments, including wetlands, soils, oceans, and even within the digestive systems of some animals.

News Source: DTE