Colonisation of polyurethane reticulated foam biomass support particle by methanogen species

The ability of methanogen species to colonize reticulated polyurethane foam biomass support particles (BSP) in a continuous culture system using formate as carbon source was investigated. Scanning electron micrograph evidence and biomass measurements indicate that two methanogen species effectively colonized within the matrix of the support particle. The freely suspended colonized BSP are resistant to washout, and comparison of methane output of the immobilized culture and liquid culture of the methanogens indicates the potential for process intensification of methane production.