ABSTRACT
Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to the reduction of sulfate in marine sediments is a microbe-mediated biogeochemical process. This process prevents the emission of methane to the atmosphere and has potential applications in biotechnology. AOM research was primarily focused on the exploration of possible AOM occurrence sites and characterizing anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME) types and their closer associates of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in deep sea locations and some extreme locations like cold seeps, mud volcanoes and hydrothermal vents. ANME enrichment has been a constant challenge for researchers performing AOM studies. Due to lack of a defined enrichment procedure and/or protocol for ANME, the explorations of ANME mechanisms take longer years. Mostly ANME enrichment studies have taken several years of bioreactor operation prior to achieve any active enrichments. Despite adopting robust enrichment procedures, the slow growth rate of ANME, limited solubility of methane and difficulty of handling the deep sea sediments in the laboratory remain major strides for ANME cultivation.
