Yes microbes can be used as a source of energy. Bacteria such as methane bacterium is used for the generation of gobar gas or biogas.
The generation of biogas is an anaerobic process in a biogas plant which consist of a concrete tank (10-15 feet deep) with sufficient outlets and inlets. The dung is mixed with water to form the slurry and thrown into the tank. The digester of the tank is filled with numerous anaerobic metane-producing bacteria which produce biogas from the slurry. Biogas can be removed from the pipe which is then used as a source of energy while the spent slurry is removed from the outlet and is used as a fertilizer.
Complete and balance the following chemical equations: (a) \[ 2MnO_4^-(aq) + 10I^-(aq) + 16H^+(aq) \rightarrow \] (b) \[ Cr_2O_7^{2-}(aq) + 6Fe^{2+}(aq) + 14H^+(aq) \rightarrow \]
There are several valuable microorganisms that are beneficial to humans in various manners such as: