Engineering Biofuel Using Termite Gut Microorganisms to Produce H2 as Alternative Energy in Modeling of Feasibility and Applicable Environmentally Friendly H2 Production

 

Termite gut microorganisms have been studied recently and been known to produce H2 from cellulose. In particular, the metabolic processes of cellulose-degrading protozoa Trichomitopsis termopsidis from subterranean termites were researched and analyzed. Using this research, feasibility of scaling up from a microscopic level to solve real world non-renewable energy problems was calculated on a global scale. The protozoa-produced H2 was hypothesized as more environmentally friendly and feasible than traditional fuels.

 

Initially, the plan was a cost analysis comparison, but later morphed to creating a model depicting the metabolic processes. A theoretical, research-based input-output flowchart model and balanced chemical equations of a three-step H2 production process from cellulose were created. Using this model, based on global energy demand and varying microbe efficiency to adjust for the natural biological metabolic pathway, 240 quadrillion BTUs H2 and 180 billion tons cellulose were calculated to sustain global energy demand of 253 quadrillion kJ and produce 9.77 billion tons CO2 in the process at a 100% efficiency. In calculating feasibility of global implementation factoring a current efficiency percentage of 25% was assumed and all calculations were done by multiplying the calculated amounts for 100% efficiency by a variable of 4.

 

It was concluded that modeled efficiency of H2 production was too low compared to gasoline theoretically, but differs in real life due to optimizable protozoa efficiency range (20% - 90%). Future applications and research may include reducing the microbial metabolic pathway and global implementation of biofuel production as replacement of traditional petroleum-based fuels like gasoline.