Production of methane

A method for producing methane from carbon dioxide, hydrogen and anaerobic Archaea methanogen/s provided in an aqueous growth substrate;

• characterized in that:
• the aqueous substrate containing anaerobic Archaea methanogen/s is supplied to a vessel;
• and
• the vessel and aqueous growth substrate is pressurized to a pressure of from 5 to 1000 bar with a pressurizing fluid consisting of carbon dioxide, or a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

A method for the production of methane from carbon dioxide, hydrogen and anaerobic Archaea methanogen/s includes the steps of:

• a) providing an anode reaction vessel (14) containing a positive electrode (anode) and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising water and ionizing material;
• b) providing a cathode reaction vessel (12) containing a negative electrode (cathode), an electrolytic aqueous growth substrate, methanogen/s, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, wherein the cathode vessel (12) and aqueous growth substrate is pressurized to a pressure of from 5 to 1000 bar;
• c) connecting the first and second reaction vessels with connection means which allows electrons and/or ions, to pass between the electrolytic media of the anode and cathode reaction vessels;
• d) applying a direct electrical current to the positive electrode and the negative electrode to:
• effect ionization of hydrogen in the cathode reaction vessel (12) to produce hydrogen and also to increase the pH of the electrolytic aqueous growth substrate;
• and
• effect ionized oxygen in the first reaction vessel (14), to form oxygen.

An apparatus for the production of methane from carbon dioxide, hydrogen and anaerobic Archaea methanogen/s comprising:

• a cathode reaction vessel (12) for containing carbon dioxide and electrolytic water;
• an anode reaction vessel (14) for containing electrolytic water;
• a negative electrode (cathode) capable of supporting anaerobic Archaea methanogens located within the cathode reaction vessel (12);
• a positive electrode (anode) located within the anode reaction vessel (14);
• and
• connection means for connecting electrolytic water in the cathode reaction vessel (12) and anode reaction vessel (14) so that a direct electric current can flow between the two,
• characterized in that the cathode reaction vessel (12) and the anode reaction vessel (14) are adapted to be pressurized to a pressure of from 5 to 1000 bar, the cathode reaction vessel (12) is adapted to be pressurized with a pressurizing fluid consisting of carbon dioxide or a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and internal surfaces of cathode reaction vessel (12) and anode reaction vessel (14) are made from non-conductive non-corrosive materials that insulate the electrolytic media from the rest of the apparatus, except for the cathode and anode which come in to contact with electrolytic water within the reaction vessels.