Mary Lidstrom & Jeremy D. Semrau: Methane removal approaches using methanotrophic bacteria

Methanotrophs are bacteria that grow on methane as their sole carbon and energy source.  In this presentation, we will review basic information regarding this group of bacteria, address how the methane and nitrogen cycles intersect in nature with a focus on copper and N2O, and go over potential options for using methanotrophs to remove highly dilute methane from air as a possible climate solution. 

Bio

Mary Lidstrom is Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of Microbiology, and from 1996-2022 held the Frank Jungers Chair of Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle. She received her B.S. in Microbiology from Oregon State University. After receiving her M.S. and Ph.D. in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Lidstrom conducted work as a Leverhulme postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology at the University of Sheffield. Dr. Lidstrom has previously held academic appointments in Microbiology at the University of Washington, in the Center for Great Lakes Studies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in Environmental Engineering Science at the California Institute of Technology. She currently is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. From 2005 until 2021, Dr. Lidstrom was the Vice Provost for Research and holds the title of Vice Provost Emeritus. Over the past 50 years, research in the Lidstrom Laboratory has addressed various aspects of bacteria that grow on one-carbon compounds (methylotrophs), and for the past 10 years, has focused on those methylotrophs that grow on methane (methanotrophs). Current work is focused on developing microbially-based technology for atmospheric removal of the potent greenhouse gas methane, to slow global warming by 2050.  

Jeremy D. Semrau is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Professor in the Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan.  Professor Semrau received his B.S. in Civil Engineering with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.S.E. and PhD in Environmental Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology.  Following his PhD, Professor Semrau was a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick (UK).  Professor Semrau’s research is in the general area of environmental microbiology, with a particular interest on elucidating and manipulating methanotrophy for a variety of environmental, industrial and medical applications.  Recent work includes efforts to utilize methanotrophy for the in situ removal of persistent halogenated organic pollutants, control and removal of greenhouse gasses (i.e., methane and nitrous oxide) as well as production of novel biogenic chelating agents for the treatment of metal-related human pathologies (e.g., Wilson Disease).  Professor Semrau has received many awards during his academic career including recognition as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.  He has served on the editorial boards of Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, and Frontiers of Microbiology and is active in many professional societies, most notably the American Society of Microbiology and American Geophysical Union.