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PROCESSES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY ANAEROBIC CONVERSION OF HYDROGEN AND CARBON OXIDES TO ALCOHOLS

  • US 20140227752A1
  • Filed: 02/07/2014
  • Published: 08/14/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A continuous process for the anaerobic bioconversion of a gas substrate comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide in an aqueous menstruum containing microorganisms suitable for converting said substrate to alcohol comprising:

  • a. continuously introducing said substrate in the form of gas bubbles at one or more gas inlets of a bioreactor assembly having at least one bioreactor for containing said menstruum, said bioreactor having at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet and at least one bioreactor in the bioreactor assembly is characterized as having a substantially uniform aqueous menstruum and a substantially non-uniform substrate concentration between the gas inlet and the gas outlet wherein the cumulative substrate introduced into the bioreactor assembly through said one or more gas inlets has a ratio of electrons to carbon atoms in the range of about 5.2;

    1 to 6.8;

    1;

    b. maintaining contact between the gas bubbles and said menstruum to provide an alcohol-containing menstruum and a substrate depleted gas phase at a gas outlet of said bioreactor assembly, said duration of contact being sufficient to convert at least about 80 percent of the hydrogen in the gas substrate to alcohol;

    c. continuously withdrawing substrate depleted gas phase from said bioreactor assembly at said at least one gas outlet wherein the substrate depleted gas phase being withdrawn from the bioreactor assembly has a partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the range of about 2.5 and 25 kPa; and

    d. continuously or intermittently withdrawing a portion of said menstruum from said bioreactor assembly for recovery of said alcohol, said withdrawal being sufficient to maintain the alcohol in said menstruum below a concentration that unduly adversely affects the microorganisms.

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