Research Development Corporation of Japan

Other

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Rikagaku Kenkysuho

Naoki Nakatsugawa

Koki Horikoshi

Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum having an optimum growth sodium chloride concentration ranging from about 2.5 to about 3 mole are herein disclosed. The bacteria are halophilic or halophilic and alkalophilic and can be used as the microorganisms which play a central role in the methods of methane fermentation to enhance the efficiency of such a method since the use of the microorganism makes it possible to carry out the method at an alkaline pH, in the presence of salts in a high concentration and at a low temperature.

Extremely halophilic methanogenic archaebacteria

Methanosarcina alcaliphilum which is alkalophilic methanogen having the optimum growth pH range of from about 8.1 to about 8.7. This strain exhibits excellent properties such as alkalophilicity and resistance to low temperature. This strain makes it possible to carry out methane fermentation methods at an alkaline pH and at a low temperature conditions. This strain is applied to methane fermentation in treating solid waste and waste water. Moreover, the bacterial concentration thereof in a reactor can be increased within a very short time and, therefore, the size of such a reactor can be made compact.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama-ken, Japan

Naoki Nakatsugawa