TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Microbial Consortia: In the consortia (C1), both the first-bite microbial consortium and the downstream microbial consortium are anaerobic microbial consortiums. In the consortia (C1), the intermediate microbial consortium comprises several microorganism species that converts the first-bite metabolic product into the starting hydrocarbon metabolic product through intermediate metabolic products, where the microorganism species are species of Desulfuromonas. The isolated microbial consortia (C1) further comprises intermediate microbial consortium that converts the first-bite metabolic product into the starting hydrocarbon metabolic product. In the consortia (C2), the first, second and third microbial consortium comprises a species of Desulfuromonas or anaerobic microorganisms. In the consortia (C3), the third microbial consortium comprises a first group of microorganisms that convert acetate into carbon dioxide and free hydrogen, and a second group of microorganisms that convert the carbon dioxide and free hydrogen into methane and water. In the consortia (C3), the third microbial consortia comprise species of Desulfuromonas. In the consortia (C3), the first, second and third consortiums consist of anaerobic microorganisms.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The first-bite metabolic products are the starting hydrocarbon metabolic product. The starting hydrocarbon comprises coal, oil, kerogen, peat, lignite, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, or tar. The downstream metabolic product comprises an organic acid, an alcohol, an amine, a straight or branched hydrocarbon, or an aromatic hydrocarbon. The downstream metabolic product comprises methane. The starting hydrocarbon metabolic product comprises a formate compound, an acetate compound, a benzoate compound, an alcohol, or an organic acid. The intermediate metabolic products comprise CO or CO2. The intermediate compound in the consortia (C2) comprises a formate compound, an acetate compound, a benzoate compound, an alcohol, or an organic acid. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.