Regional Competitive Grants

Project Title:  Biological energy production from biomass by wood-feeding termites

Principal Investigators and affiliations:

• PI: Jian-Zhong Sun (Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center)

Start Date: 9/1/2007      End Date: 8/31/2008

Project Abstract

Available data indicate that wood-feeding termites appear to hold the following exclusive advantages in producing economic and sustainable energy gas products: A). The highest H2 conversion rate from biomass (9.8–10.5 liters H2/g wood substrate) among present technologies in biological hydrogen processes. B). The highest biomass consumption rate (0.89 mg/termite/day) and biological conversion rate from cellulose to the fermentable sugars (74-99%) among the available technologies in biological conversion. C). A low energy requirement for constructing and maintaining a controllable energy gas production system compared to the processes of steam reformation of natural gas, petroleum refining, coal gasification, and biomass gasification. D). Potentially no adverse environmental impacts from this gas production system.

Hydrogen produced from lignocellulose has the potential of becoming a viable component of tomorrow’s biofuel mix and meeting the Sun Grant’s goals in pursuing clean energy via bio-conversion of agricultural, woody biomass with biotechnology. Our novel approach represents a significant improvement in economy, efficacy and flexibility. Technically, this unique process demonstrates a distinct departure, not only from traditional higher-temperature, steam-reforming technologies with associated higher energy inputs, but also from other biological hydrogen routes with low conversion rates.

The objectives of this project include: 1. Evaluate hydrogen and methane gas production of different subterranean termite species with their associated symbiotic microorganisms. 2. Determine effects of various lignocellulosic diets and antibiotics treatment on hydrogen and methane emission from termite digestive tract. 3. Identify and isolate symbiotic microorganisms responsible for producing hydrogen from termite digestive tract, such as protozoa and hydrogen bacteria. 4. Assemble a prototype of an energy gas production system utilizing termites in a sustainable and economic pathway to produce hydrogen. The long term goal of this proposal is to develop or construct an effective, economic, and industrial scale energy gas production system with wood-feeding termites or with those microorganisms isolated from their guts. The major obstacles we face are how to turn this conceptual design into be a real and sustainable gaseous H2 production system. This proposal indicates that, with some further efforts and financial support, the biological conversion system via wood-feeding termites to produce higher yields of hydrogen could be technologically and commercially viable.

In this project, constructing an effective and viable biological hydrogen system via wood-feeding termites is proposed utilizing the property of energy gas emission from termite hindguts during the course of wood decomposition. The microorganisms that inhabit the termite digestive tract, such as protozoa and bacteria, are responsible for efficient digestion of lignocellulose and the subsequent production of hydrogen and methane (CH4). Therefore, the basic methodology we proposed is to use the termite guts as the bioreactors to produce biological hydrogen via the digestion of cellulose. Furthermore, with the efforts in termite species selection, diet modification, and other operations to enhance the emission rate of hydrogen, termite guts could be potentially used as the world’s smallest bioreactors to economically generate commercial quantities of biological hydrogen from the breakdown of wood biomass with minimal environmental impact.

Reports and Publications:

Quarter 1 - 2008
Quarter 2 - 2008
Quarters 3-4 - 2008
Project Final Report