Bacteria from food leftovers turn waste into renewable natural gas

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified a previously unknown methane-producing bacterium from the Natronincolaceae family that can convert food waste into renewable natural gas (RNG), even in high-ammonia environments where most methane-producing microbes fail. This discovery was made at the Surrey Biofuel Facility in Canada, which processes about 115,000 tons of food waste annually using anaerobic digestion. The facility relies on microbial communities to break down organic waste into simpler compounds like acetic acid, which are then converted into methane and refined into RNG. Using protein stable isotope probing (protein-SIP), the team tracked carbon-labeled nutrients to pinpoint the key microbes responsible for methane production, revealing the new bacterium’s significant role. This ammonia-tolerant microbe explains why some digesters maintain methane production under challenging conditions, preventing costly interruptions caused by acetic acid buildup. The findings suggest that high-ammonia environments may actually support these microbes, offering potential for improved biofuel facility designs and