초록
본 연구에서는 메탄의 생물학적 메탄올 전환에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 바이오가스 중의 메탄은 메탄산화균의 methane monooxygenase (MMO)의 생물학적 촉매반응에 의해 산화되었으며, 인산염, NaCl, $NH_4Cl$, EDTA와 같은 methanol dehydrogenase (MDH)의 활성 저해제를 이용하여 MDH의 활성도를 저해함으로써 메탄올의 전환이 이루어졌다. 메탄산화균은 $35^{\circ}C$, pH 7, 인공 바이오가스($CH_4$ 50%, $CO_2$ 50%) / Air의 부피비가 0.4인 조건에서 메탄 산화 정도가 0.56 mmol로 최대로 나타났다. 인산염 40 mM, NaCl 50 mM, $NH_4Cl$ 40 mM, EDTA $150{\mu}m$ 이하일 때 저해제의 종류에 상관없이 메탄 산화율은 80% 이상을 달성하였다. 한편, 인산염 40 mM, NaCl 100 mM, $NH_4Cl$ 40 mM, EDTA $50{\mu}m$ 주입 시 각각 1.30, 0.67, 0.74, 1.30 mmol의 메탄이 산화되는 동시에 각각 0.71, 0.60, 0.66, 0.66 mmol의 메탄올이 최대로 생성되었다. 이때의 메탄올 전환율은 각각 54.7, 89.9, 89.6 및 47.8%였으며 최대 메탄올 생성 속도는 $7.4{\mu}mol/mg{\cdot}h$였다. 이로부터 대상 저해제로 MDH 활성도를 일반적으로 35% 저해 시에 메탄올 생산량이 최대인 89.9%까지 나타남을 알 수 있었다.
This study was conducted to biologically convert methane into methanol. Methane contained in biogas was bio-catalytically oxidized by methane monooxygenase (MMO) of methanotrophs, while methanol conversion was observed by inhibiting methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) using MDH activity inhibitors such as phosphate, NaCl, $NH_4Cl$, and EDTA. The degree of methane oxidation by methanotrophs was the most highly accomplished as 0.56 mmol for the condition at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 7 under 0.4 (v/v%) of biogas ($CH_4$ 50%, $CO_2$ 50%) / Air ratio. By the inhibition of 40 mM of phosphate, 50 mM of NaCl, 40 mM of $NH_4Cl$ and $150{\mu}m$ of EDTA, methane oxidation rate could achieve more than 80% regardless of type of inhibitors. In the meantime, addition of 40 mM of phosphate, 100 mM of NaCl, 40 mM of $NH_4Cl$ and $50{\mu}m$ of EDTA each led to generating the highest amount of methanol, i.e, 0.71, 0.60, 0.66, and 0.66 mmol when 1.3, 0.67, 0.74, and 1.3 mmol of methane was each concurrently consumed. At that time, methanol conversion rate was 54.7, 89.9, 89.6, and 47.8% respectively, and maximum methanol production rate was $7.4{\mu}mol/mg{\cdot}h$. From this, it was decided that the methanol production could be maximized as 89.9% when MDH activity was specifically inhibited into the typical level of 35% for the inhibitor of concern.
