Method and Apparatus for Membrane-Based, Two-Stage Gas Production from Solid Biomaterials

• US 20120107895A1
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
• Inventors: Nirmalakhandan, Nagamany, Deng, Shuguang, Smith, Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/168
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/04 for producing gas, e.g. biogas digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/24 Gas permeable parts
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention preferably relate to a method and apparatus for a two-stage membrane-based production of gas, preferably hydrogen gas or the like, from solid biological materials, preferably organic waste materials or the like, comprising anaerobic hydrolysis and fermentation and photofermentation using microorganisms.

Claims

1. A method for producing gas from a biomaterial comprising the steps of:

fermenting the biomaterial using anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation;

photofermentating;

removing the gas; and

maintaining a pH during at least one stage of the method.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation and photofermentating occur in tandem.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation comprises percolating leachate in a cross-flow mode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation comprises anaerobically fermenting leachate to produce a mixture comprising hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide, and fatty acids.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the photofermentating comprises converting fatty acids to produce a mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and organic residue.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation and photofermentating occur at room temperature.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the pH comprises monitoring and controlling different pH levels in different stages.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining hydrogen partial pressure and avoiding product inhibition by rapidly and efficiently separating the gas.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation occurs in a leach-bed reactor.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the photofermentating occurs in a suspended-growth reactor stage.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the biomaterial is a solid.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation and photofermentating comprise utilizing naturally occurring organisms.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the naturally occurring organisms occur in manure.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation and the photofermentating take place in a single vessel.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the single vessel comprises a multi-stage reactor comprising at least one leach-bed reactor and at least one suspended-growth reactor, the suspended-growth reactor in fluid communication with the leach-bed reactor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the single vessel comprises a gas-specific membrane system disposed above the leach-bed reactor and the suspended-growth reactor in fluid communication with the multi-stage reactor.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the single vessel comprises a plurality of tubes, wherein a portion of the tubes divide the leach-bed reactor from the suspended-growth reactor within the single vessel.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the single vessel comprises an annular space between the tubes dividing the leach-bed reactor from the suspended-growth reactor.