Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Open Access Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MS)

Administrative Home Department

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Advisor 1

Robert Handler

Committee Member 1

David Shonnard

Committee Member 2

John Sandell

Abstract

Methane, a greenhouse gas with global warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, heavily contributes to global warming. Removing 1 Gt of atmospheric methane by 2050 would limit global temperature increase from reaching 1.5°C. Currently, biotrickling filter systems for removing atmospheric methane via methanotrophs exist, but not for very low methane concentrations (< 1 v%). Current research work at the University of Washington isolated and engineered a microbe strain which thrives at 500 ppmv methane, solving one obstacle in making this technology feasible. In this thesis, techno-economic analysis and environmental life cycle assessment conducted on this process have assessed its economic feasibility, greenhouse gas reduction potential, and possible areas of improvement. Study results show that at 500 ppmv methane, this process could remove atmospheric methane at a cost of $3,992-5,224 per tCH4. The ideal case also produces annual net reduction in warming potential by 276-311 tCO2e per process unit deployed.

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