Researchers from Montana State University are 3D printing microbe biofilms to reduce methane gasses in the atmosphere. 

Known as one of the most damaging greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, methane has proven to have an adverse effect on our environment. This odorless, flammable gas comes from a variety of practices, including landfills, oil and coal mining, and even natural sources like wetlands.

To combat this global issue, researchers from Montana State University is looking to 3D print microbe biofilms that would reduce methane. Working alongside the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the University of Oklahoma, the team is weaponizing a microbe called methanotrophs to try and fight this drastic greenhouse gas.

The researchers are aiming to develop models that explain the metabolism of the microbes, and will also look into designing and constructing biofilms. They will use specialized 3D printers that optimize the materials ability to form organic compounds. In turn, the methanotrophs could potentially be used to create products like plastics and biofuels.

“We are interested in structuring biofilms using 3D printing, in the same way that bioengineers have been structuring artificial tissue constructs. In general, there is a lot of potential for structuring biofilms in a well-controlled way,” said Jim Wilking, an assistant professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Montana State.

Looking For Microbes in Thermal Features at Yellowstone National Park

To find the right material for their experimentation, the researchers are searching for microbes in thermal features at Yellowstone National Park. They will also look into the Sanford Underground Research Facility, which is located at a former gold mine site in South Dakota.

The research team will use SLA 3D printing because microbes are way more robust when exposed to light, making the resulting formulation more efficient. They will use methanotroph-laden drops as the 3D printing feedstock. Additionally, Wilking mentions, 3D printing technology enables the researchers to accurately structure and optimize the biofilm material.

“The ability to spatially control multiple components and organize them into a higher order structure is really the power of 3D printing. By controlling exquisitely the structure of the microbes you can understand structure function relationships in these systems and that basically allows you to optimize a bioproduct” Wilking said.

All in all, the Montana State University research provides a prime example of how 3D printing technology can be coupled to mother nature to help preserve the Earth. Once the team deciphers how these unique organisms work, they hope to use them in a manner that is beneficial to both the environment and humanity as a whole.

Source: Montana State University