Abstract:Methane, an even more serious greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, could be reduced effectively via anaerobic oxidation. According to standard Gibbs energies, it can be oxidized into carbon dioxide under anaerobic condition, when oxides e.g. SO42?、Mn4+、Fe3+、NO3? act as the electron acceptors. This paper focus on the mechanism, characteristics of methanotrophic bacteria and reaction condition of anaerobic oxidation driven by sulfate or nitrate. The problems and prospect of the research are also indicated. Reverse methanogenesis, acetogenesis and methylogenesis are three possible pathways in anaerobic oxidation driven by sulfate, whereas aerobic or anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification are probably the pathways when NO3? serves as the electron acceptor. The concentrations of methane, SO42? or NO3? and organic content, as well as environmental conditions will dramatically affect anaerobic methane oxidation.
