Methane Capture and Utilization: Turning Waste into Energy
Methane (CH₄) is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. As the primary component of natural gas, methane is a significant energy source used for heating, electricity generation, and industrial processes. It also plays a critical role in the Earth's atmosphere and carbon cycle.
Methane is produced through both natural and anthropogenic (human-driven) processes. Natural sources include wetlands, termites, and oceanic seepages, where anaerobic (oxygen-free) environments foster microbial activity that releases methane. However, human activities have significantly increased methane emissions, primarily through agriculture (especially from enteric fermentation in livestock), landfills, coal mining, and the extraction, transport, and use of fossil fuels such as natural gas and petroleum.
One of methane’s most important roles is its function as a greenhouse gas. Although it has a shorter atmospheric lifetime than carbon dioxide (CO₂)—roughly 12 years compared to centuries—methane is…