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Could I culture the bacteria that produce methane gas in the human body and make millions by selling my own manufactured methane gas?

2006-12-09 05:42:43 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics Biology

2 answers

Theoretically it is possible, I don't know however if you would get much methane. The moajority of gas in the humane body is not methane. Perhaps an even better source would be the Methanosarcina bacteria found in mud. And you wouldn;t have to dig into peoples stomachs to get it. But you might have to wait for 4 weeks to get a batch, Well good luck. But I am sure there are many who have arlready considered the possiblity. So better act fast.

2006-12-09 06:11:09 · answer #1 · answered by matthias c 2 · 1 0

You already do make some methane in your lower gut by that mechanism. The problem is AMOUNT. Natural gas sells for approximately $10 per 1000 cubic feet (size of a 10 by 10 by 10 foot room). In order to make millions you would have to fill thousands of such rooms with fairly pure methane. I doubt that your gut is up to it...
Most humans pass less than 2 liters of bowel gas per day. Assuming you made pure methane, that amount is equivalent to about 1/14 of a cubic foot, and would be worth about 7/100 cents. At that rate it would take about 4 million years to make a million dollars.
Sorry.

2006-12-09 15:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0 0

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