Articles tagged with Methane
A team of researchers found that microbes are responsible for the formation and production of methane in coal deposits. They analyzed methoxyl groups in coal samples from around the world and used stable isotopes to show that organic material becomes coal through microbial action, contradicting traditional geochemical understanding.
A team at Brookhaven National Laboratory has identified a common industrial catalyst that can efficiently convert methane to methanol with or without water. The findings suggest strategies for improving the water-free conversion, achieving 30% selectivity in the absence of water, and 80% selectivity with water.
Researchers used computer simulations to predict the presence of hydroxyl radicals, which clean pollutants from the atmosphere. The study showed that traditional models had widely varying forecasts due to uncertainties in gas emissions, and that better models can aid in combating climate change.
A new study reveals that methane emissions from US cities are 2-10 times higher than recent estimates, with Boston's emissions being six times higher due to pipeline and end-use emitters. The research found that seasonal consumption-based emissions account for 56% of total natural gas emissions in Boston.
A Cornell-led team has published detailed maps of Titan's liquid methane rivers and tributaries, providing context for the upcoming Dragonfly mission. The research examined Earth-based radar data to understand fluvial characteristics on Titan, shedding light on its sediment transport system.
Researchers discovered a massive enzyme complex in methanogenic archaea that directly transfers electrons from electron bifurcation to CO2 reduction, increasing efficiency. This finding may lead to sustainable biotechnological development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A new model developed by Stanford researchers provides a more accurate baseline for tracking methane emissions from oil and gas operations. The model, which uses bottom-up approach with component-level data, closely approximates top-down inventories and highlights specific activities that should be targeted for remediation or regulation.
The Dragonfly mission will investigate Titan's surface and atmosphere, searching for chemical biosignatures and exploring the moon's active methane cycle. By analyzing the prebiotic chemistry currently taking place in Titan's atmosphere and on its surface, scientists hope to gain insights into the potential for life on the moon.
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology estimates the median cost of plugging abandoned oil and gas wells at $76,000, with costs varying widely based on location, age, and other factors. The analysis of over 19,500 orphaned wells across the US provides valuable insights for regulators to adjust bonding requirements ...
Researchers have successfully broken carbon-hydrogen bonds in light alkanes using a novel amidation process, enabling the synthesis of complex organic molecules such as pharmaceuticals. The method has significant implications for recycling plastic waste and utilizing natural gas as a synthetic building block.
Researchers from Stanford University and the University of Leuven have discovered a process to convert methane into methanol at room temperature using iron zeolites. The 'cage effect' in the zeolite structure plays a crucial role in reactivating deactivated sites, enabling efficient production of methanol.
Scientists at ORNL developed a modular design for 3D printing power poles from bioderived materials, enabling quick restoration of electricity after natural disasters. Additionally, they demonstrated wireless charging technology on an autonomous electric vehicle, advancing the transportation industry towards a decarbonized future.
A study suggests that known geochemical processes cannot explain the high concentration of methane detected by Cassini spacecraft on Enceladus. Mathematical models suggest that microbial hydrothermal vent activity or abiotic processes could be responsible for the methane production.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new method to convert methane into valuable chemicals using photocatalysts, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste. The process uses light as an energy source to break down methane bonds, creating fuel and chemical products.
A new machine learning technique has been developed to assess water quality data and detect groundwater samples impacted by oil and gas production. The study concludes that hydrofracking does not necessarily incur more environmental problems than conventional drilling, although further research is needed to confirm this finding.
A recent study using ethane proxies has found that oil and gas wells contribute significantly to greenhouse warming, exceeding EPA estimates by 48-76%. The researchers tracked ethane and methane emissions across the US over three seasons, providing new insights into fossil fuel sources.
A study conducted by researchers in Paris identified the natural gas distribution network as a major source of methane emissions, accounting for 63% of total emissions. The study also found that sewage networks were another significant source of methane, with 33% of total emissions attributed to these systems.
Researchers discover specially adapted microorganisms that can use methane as an energy source in the hot seafloor sediments of Guaymas Basin. These microbes play a crucial role in carbon cycling and support a diverse food web, with implications for the deep-sea ecosystem.
Researchers discovered microbial communities with the potential to consume methane, a greenhouse gas, at high rates in carbonate rocks from seven geologically diverse deep-sea methane seeps. The study found that these microorganisms can consume methane at rates up to 5,500 nanomoles per cubic centimeter per day.
Researchers discovered methane-eating microbes in seafloor carbonate rocks that consume methane 50 times faster than in sediment, highlighting their crucial role in regulating Earth's temperatures. The porous nature of these rocks facilitates the growth and exchange of microbes, allowing them to thrive and maintain high metabolic rates.
A team of researchers has identified over 1,100 unique large methane point sources across the Permian Basin using airborne imaging spectrometry. The study found that most sources were highly intermittent, but those that were persistent accounted for a significant portion of total emissions.
A new analysis suggests that U.S. climate emissions from meat and dairy production are being understated due to undercounting of methane emissions. Methane emissions from North American livestock may be 39-90% higher than previously estimated, with potential consequences for global warming.
Researchers analyzed conversion factors of methane into CO2 equivalent, finding a dynamic approach to reduce economic cost while maintaining stability. The study suggests adapting conversion factors to future pathways to implement cheapest options, potentially avoiding additional mitigation costs up to 5% in high overshoot scenarios.
A team of researchers has proposed a revised mechanism for adding functional groups onto simple hydrocarbons like methane, highlighting the essential role of chlorine atoms. This new understanding is crucial for designing next-generation catalysts and finding scalable approaches to turn greenhouse gases into value-added chemicals.
A team of researchers aims to increase microorganism's ability to convert CO2 into methane for efficient production of sustainable fuel. The ReMeSh project will examine bio-electrochemical systems and accelerate electron transfer to microbes.
Researchers found methane-oxidizing bacteria are 2-3 times more active in sheltered depressions off Western Svalbard during summer. The study improves understanding of landscape and seasonal influence on microbial communities and greenhouse gas balance.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology and Weizmann Institute of Science explain how methane carbon isotopes behave differently than expected in the deep sea. They found that sulfate availability governs the isotope effects in anaerobic methane oxidation, leading to 13C-depleted methane.
A new study reveals that rapid methane release occurs in response to Arctic ice sheet melting, with thousands of years of data showing a correlation between deglaciation events and methane emissions. The research suggests that the release of this potent greenhouse gas is strongly linked to the retreat of ice sheets.
A recent study by the University of Cincinnati found that inactive oil wells in Texas can leak significant amounts of methane, with some emitting up to 132 grams per hour. The study suggests that regular inspections using infrared cameras could help address the issue.
Researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University studied pore waters in three areas of methane release on the surface, comparing regional features and geochemical indicators. They used modern sampling methods to minimize failures and obtain accurate results, revealing new insights into processes occurring in these unique ecosystems.
A team of scientists identified a new group of microbes, Brockarchaeota, that help break down decaying plants without producing methane. This discovery has significant implications for understanding climate change and the global carbon cycle, as these microbes recycle carbon without emitting greenhouse gases.
A new heterogeneous coupling catalyst for OCM has been developed, achieving a C2 yield of 10.9% at low temperatures. The catalyst's surface coupling mechanism controls the formation of C2 species, increasing selectivity and yield.
A new study reveals that the social cost of methane varies by an order of magnitude between industrialized and developing regions, with sub-Saharan Africa facing significantly lower costs. The study estimates a global mean cost of $922 per metric ton, decreasing to $130 for sub-Saharan Africa and rising to $8,040 for the US.
A team of scientists has developed a protocol using magnesium nanoparticles and bulk to convert CO2 into methane, methanol, and hydrogen. The reaction occurs at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, producing significant amounts of fuel and chemicals with minimal energy input.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience found that aquatic ecosystems are a significant source of global methane emissions, accounting for at least half of the total methane emissions budget. Human activities such as agriculture, fertilization runoff, and aquaculture contribute to these emissions.
Researchers used NIST's agricomb to measure methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water vapor from a beef cattle feedlot in Kansas. The portable system identified trace gases based on infrared light absorption, providing precise measurements of gas concentrations.
Lakes store huge amounts of methane, which has a global warming potential 80-100 times greater than CO2. Researchers at the University of Basel suggest extracting and using this methane for sustainable energy production, potentially meeting world's energy needs.
Researchers investigated methane hydrate deposit in deep-sea fan of Danube in western Black Sea, finding dynamic situation related to Black Sea development since last ice age. The study suggests gas hydrates decompose due to salinity, pressure, and temperature changes, with implications for climate change
A new study found that oil production emits 90% higher methane than the EPA's estimated figures, while natural gas production emissions are 50% higher. The research team developed a method to trace and map total emissions using satellite data to identify areas with discrepancies.
A new study published in Geology indicates that Arctic ice melt can trigger methane releases from buried reserves. Researchers measured carbon isotopes in ancient shells and found evidence of violent methane spurts during past sea-ice melt events, suggesting similar releases may occur again. The findings highlight the importance of con...
Researchers developed gold-phosphorus nanosheets that selectively oxidize methane to methanol with high efficiency. The nanosheets enable mild oxidation of methane into CH3 species, followed by oxidation via hydroxyl groups into methanol.
Researchers developed a new sensor using interband cascade light emitting device (ICLED) to detect methane concentrations as low as 0.1 parts per million. The ICLED-based sensors could be used to monitor emissions from livestock and dairy farms, and enable more accurate climate crisis monitoring.
Using drones equipped with magnetometers, researchers can detect magnetic anomalies and pinpoint the location of unplugged oil wells. By locating these wells, the equivalent of nearly 750,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide could be removed from the atmosphere.
Researchers have discovered a way to convert methane in natural gas into liquid methanol at room temperature using a catalyst material and electricity. This process reduces the need for high heat and pressure, making it a more efficient and affordable method for producing methanol.
Biologists from RUDN University studied the impact of jungles on global warming and found that tropical rainforests can be a significant source of methane emissions. The study, published in the Forests journal, suggests that these regions emit more methane throughout the year than they absorb, contrary to previous assumptions.
A new study on submarine permafrost suggests that frozen land beneath rising sea levels traps significant amounts of methane and organic carbon, with potential impacts on climate. Researchers estimate that submarine permafrost could release up to 500 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere over hundreds of years.
A novel photocatalyst developed by City University of Hong Kong turns carbon dioxide into methane fuel selectively and effectively using sunlight. The catalyst, made from copper-based materials, produces almost double the quantity of methane compared to previous methods.
A new study estimates that methane emissions from coal mines are approximately 50 percent higher than previously calculated. Methane is about 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the planet over a long period.
Cornell University researchers estimated the depth of Kraken Mare on Saturn's moon Titan to be at least 1,000 feet, using data from the Cassini mission. The sea is also massive, covering an area nearly as large as all five Great Lakes combined.
A recent study by McGill University finds that methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells in the US and Canada are significantly higher than previously estimated. The research estimates that these wells emit more methane gas than government records suggest, with implications for climate change.
Scientists have discovered that ancient wetlands experienced increased methane cycling during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, an ancient global warming event. This finding suggests that rapid global warming can disrupt methane cycling in wetlands, potentially exacerbating climate change.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago developed a new catalyst made from 10 elements that can lower methane combustion temperatures by half. This could lead to a significant reduction in harmful greenhouse gases produced by burning natural gas in households, power turbines, and cars.
A new explanation for Arctic rapid warming proposes that great earthquakes in the Aleutian Arc triggered the phenomenon. These events released methane from permafrost, leading to climate warming.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a nanomaterial cement mixture that can effectively seal leaky natural gas wells, reducing methane emissions. The new cement is more resistant to cracking and can be pumped through narrow spaces, making it suitable for use in active unconventional wells and orphaned abandoned gas wells.
Scientists have discovered a link between the moon's tidal forces and methane release in the Arctic Ocean. The study found that changes in pressure during tidal cycles can increase gas emissions from the seafloor, potentially leading to underestimated gas emissions. High tides tend to reduce emissions, while low tides increase them.
Researchers found that low oxygen levels increase methane concentrations by 15 to 800 times, leading to more global warming. The study suggests that preventing low oxygen concentrations could prevent large methane producers.
Researchers have found that frozen hydrate formations can facilitate the release of methane gas from deep-sea environments. By creating channels and directing flow, hydrate formation enables the gas to persist in its gaseous form for longer periods.
A massive methane release occurred in a deep ocean natural gas reservoir during the Pliocene, potentially affecting atmospheric concentrations. The study estimates that up to 27 teragrams of methane could have reached the atmosphere over 8 months, equivalent to 10% of current global annual emissions.
Researchers discovered that Pluto's mountains are snowcapped with frozen methane, formed at high altitudes where the atmosphere is rich in methane. This finding explains why Pluto's glaciers have craggy ridges unlike Earth's flat ones.
A new study finds that infectious diseases in livestock can lead to increased methane emissions, exacerbating climate change. Ruminant animals infected with intestinal worms or suffering from mastitis release up to 33% and 8% more methane per kilogram of feed or milk produced.