Patent ID: 8177870

Claim:
A method for oxidizing methane using a source of oxygen and the enteric fermentation methane produced by one or more ruminant animals as a source of carbon and/or energy, comprising: a. providing a first gas comprising enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure; b. providing a second gas comprising air that has been combined with said first gas in said enclosure, wherein said second gas comprises oxygen and wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in said combination of first and second gases is between 1.7 ppm and 1000 ppm; c. providing at least one system to oxidize methane to produce electricity and/or heat wherein said system is unable to oxidize said first gas using said second gas as a sole source of methane and wherein said system is selected from the group consisting of: a fuel cell, turbine, microturbine, engine, and reverse flow reactor; d. providing a third gas comprising methane, wherein the amount of methane in said third gas is sufficient to support the oxidation of said third gas by said system using said third gas as a sole source of methane; and e. introducing a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said system, wherein said system oxidizes a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide.