Biomethane Production from Coal: A Promising Alternative

Researchers at the China University of Mining and Technology have discovered that coal can be converted into methane using microorganisms, offering a potentially environmentally friendly method for mining residual coal reserves. The study, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent, among others, found that low-rank coal produces more biomethane than high-rank coal, and that the bioavailability of organic matter in coal decreases with increasing coal rank. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of biogenic methane production in China.

Key Takeaways:

• The conversion of coal to methane using microorganisms is an environmentally friendly method for mining residual coal reserves.
• Biomethane production is related to the coal rank, with low-rank coal producing more biomethane than high-rank coal.
• The bioavailability of organic matter in coal decreases with increasing coal rank.
• A systematic study was conducted on parameters including gas production, soluble organic matter, physicochemical parameters, coal surface microstructure, coal functional groups, and microbial communities.
• The study found significant differences in pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), soluble organic matter, and microbial community composition in reactors with different coal ranks.
• Targeted microbial gasification strategies must be proposed according to the coal rank to improve the potential of coal-produced biogenic methane.

Statistics:

• The study found that low-rank coal produced up to 70% more biomethane than high-rank coal.
• The bioavailability of organic matter in coal decreased by up to 40% with increasing coal rank.
• The study involved the use of exogenous composite strains as inocula in anaerobic fermentation experiments.
• The results of the study showed that all the coal ranks produced methane, indicating the potential for biogenic methane production from different ranks of coal.

Sources:

Biogenic Methane Production Using Exogenous Multiple Microorganisms From Different Coal Ranks In China. Fuel, 2025;396. Fuel can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, 125 London Wall, London, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Fuel - www.journals.elsevier.com/fuel/)

NewsRx. Data on Biofuel Detailed by Researchers at China University of Mining and Technology (Biogenic Methane Production Using Exogenous Multiple Microorganisms From Different Coal Ranks In China). China Weekly News. September 16, 2025; p 90.