Varanasi: The scientists from Banaras Hindu University are working on a project ‘Biomethanization of Coal’ given by the ministry of coal through the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI) to explore the possible solution to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions. The experts believe that biomethanization of coal in the in-situ (the natural and original form in which coal exists beneath the earth) conditions could offer a possible solution to the problem.
Prof Asha Lata Singh of the department of Botany and Prof Prakash K Singh of the department of Geology, Institute of Science, will be working on ‘Biomethanization of Coal’ (converting coal into methane in its natural form by using certain microbes). The work will be tested at the bench scale in the laboratory and if successful, the work could produce a form of fuel (methane) which will be less harmful to the environment.
Prof Prakash Singh said that biomethanization of coal is a relatively new concept and hasn’t been explored and researched much. Currently, only in the United States and China such studies are underway in this area. India has become the third country to have entered into this area of research and BHU is the proud institution chosen for the study. During the course of the study, an in-situ type of environment shall be re-created in the laboratory with the help of anaerobic chamber where anaerobic microbes would be used for the experiment. The success of this project would not only open-up a new window for future research but would also open new pathways to obtain green energy. Such innovative work has not been carried out in the country so far and is being done in the BHU for the first time, he added.
With rising global temperatures, curbing greenhouse gas emissions has become a major challenge before the world community, he said. The governments across the globe are brainstorming innovative ways to curb emissions in order to check environmental pollution. Mining of coal involves several processes that result in various kinds of pollution. Further the use of coal in thermal power stations also leads to environmental hazards and leads to carbon emissions. Given the importance of coal for developmental and growth activities, a need for discovering less hazardous and more effective ways to use coal as fuel has been long felt.
A team of senior officers from CMPDI also visited the BHU and discussed various aspects of Biomethanization with Prof Asha Lata Singh, Prof Prakash K Singh, and their research team. This research team is also working on a DST-SERB project on ‘Desulfurization of sulfur-rich coals using biological and chemical methods’.
The new project comes at a time when BHU has been laying greater focus on interdisciplinary research by way of providing funds and infrastructural support. Vice-chancellor Prof Sudhir Kumar Jain said that BHU offers a perfect ecosystem for interdisciplinary studies.
