methanogenesis
Sign in to saveMethanogenesis or biomethanation is the formation of methane coupled to energy conservation by microbes known as methanogens. It is the fourth and final stage of anaerobic digestion. Organisms capable of producing methane for energy conservation have been identified only from the domain Archaea, a group phylogenetically distinct from both eukaryotes and bacteria, although many live in close association with anaerobic bacteria. The production of methane is an important and widespread form of microbial metabolism. In anoxic environments, it is the final step in the decomposition of biomass. Meth
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Biochemistry
- Proposed mechanism
- Reverse methanogenesis
- Importance in carbon cycle
- Natural occurrence
- In ruminants
- In humans
- In plants
- In soils
- In Earth's crust
- In marine environments
- Industry
- Role in global warming
- Extra-terrestrial life
- See also
- References
Methanogenesis or biomethanation is the formation of methane coupled to energy conservation by microbes known as methanogens. It is the fourth and final stage of anaerobic digestion. Organisms capable of producing methane for energy conservation have been identified only from the domain Archaea, a group phylogenetically distinct from both eukaryotes and bacteria, although many live in close association with anaerobic bacteria. The production of methane is an important and widespread form of microbial metabolism. In anoxic environments, it is the final step in the decomposition of biomass. Methanogenesis is responsible for significant amounts of natural gas accumulations, the remainder being thermogenic.
==Biochemistry== thumb|320px|Cycle for methanogenesis, showing intermediates.