Other Environmental Applications

Biomethane Potential

Biomethane potential (BMP) refers to the maximum amount of biomethane produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic materials under ideal conditions. It relates to the volume of methane produced per unit mass of organic material (e.g., liters per kilogram of volatile solids). This metric is crucial for evaluating the feasibility and efficiency of biogas plants and determining how much energy a given amount of biomass can generate. The methane generated can be used for electricity and heat production, enhancing farm sustainability and reducing environmental impacts.

Insect Respiration

Studying insect respiration is crucial for developing effective pest control strategies. Insights gained from insect respiration can drive innovations in biomimetic design. Environmental indicators that affect insect respiratory activity can help scientists assess ecological health and monitor the impacts of pollutants or climate change on biological systems.

Bioleaching

Bioleaching is an environmentally friendly technique that uses natural materials like water, air, and microorganisms to extract metals from sulfide ores. Specific bacteria and archaea catalyze the oxidation of these minerals. Commercially, bioleaching is employed to extract key metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and uranium. A related process, bio-oxidation, is used in gold processing and coal desulfurization. Bio-oxidation aids in exposing gold within refractory ores for efficient cyanide leaching and helps remove sulfur impurities from coal by oxidizing pyrite.

Fermentation

Fermentation studies require precise measurements of gas exchanges to evaluate microbial metabolism. Systems enabling real-time, continuous monitoring substantially enhance the understanding and optimization of fermentation processes in fields such as biofuel research, food science, and pharmaceuticals. 

How the Micro-Oxymax Can Benefit Research

The Columbus Instruments’ Micro-Oxymax system is a highly adaptable general-purpose closed-circuit respirometer. The system monitors the concentration of gas contained within an enclosed head space into which the material being monitored is respiring. Periodic sensing of the gas concentration, along with an equally accurate measurement of the volume of the head space, allows calculations of incremental and accumulated values for consumption and production. The Micro-Oxymax design principle provides a sensing threshold near 2 x 10-7 liter per hour. The system can be configured for single or multiple gas sensing. Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and a variety of other gases can be sensed over specially selected ranges to meet almost any application.

The Micro-Oxymax is a modular system that can support testing biodegradability in all environments. An initial configuration for basic investigations can be expanded later to include additional gases and/or chambers. The software automates many aspects of the test with a single set of sensors to calibrate, it takes only a few minutes to begin a test. The system automatically compensates for changes in pressure and temperature and converts evolved carbon dioxide to STP for easy conversion into milligrams.