Stoichiometry of methane oxidation in the methane-oxidizing strain M 102 under the influence of various CH4/O2 mixtures.

In laboratory-scale experiments with growing cells of the obligate methane-oxidizing strain M 102, an overall molar gas turnover ratio of the order given below could be postulated: 1 CH4+1--1.2 O2=0.3 CO2+water. Expectations that the optimal gas mixture of methane and oxygen should lie within the range of this stoichiometric consumption ratio have been verified in fermenter 5 1 batch culture experiments. The optimal range of methane-oxygen mixture, found under the experimental conditions described, is based on the estimated growth parameters as generation and doubling times, yield coefficients related to methane and oxygen, and the efficiency of methane metabolism as indicated in the absolute amounts of CH4, O2, and CO2 turned over. The mentioned stoichiometric relation of 1 CH4:1--1.202 did not change with varying the composition, i.e. the partial pressures of CH4 and O2 introduced as a mixture to the cells. The efficiency of methane oxidation was obviously influenced and decreased markedly when deviating from the broad optimal range of CH4/O2 mixtures. With non-growing cells, on the other hand, the stoichiometric relation showed a considerable shift (1:1.4--1.8 CH4:O2) with a clear tendency towards more O2 consumption. The oxidation potential of growing cells, seems then to have a linear interdependence to the substrate concentrations, i.e. partial pressures.