methane from coal caroon (IMAGE) Penn State Caption The process that microbes use to create a methane precursor molecule from coal. Anaerobic microbes live in the pore spaces between coal. They produce enzymes that they excrete into the pore space onto the coal structure. That enzyme breaks off a methoxyl group to produce a methane precursor molecule. Credit Max Lloyd, Penn State Usage Restrictions non commercial use only License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.