Method and apparatus for hydrogen production from organic wastes and manure

• US 6,887,692 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
• Original Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
• Inventors: Paterek, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lilling, Herbert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/322,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20040115782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 435/168, 435/290.1, 435/290.4, 435/292.1
• US Class Current: 435/168
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/20 from animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/32 from the food or foodstuff industry, e.g. brewery waste waters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/2853 using anaerobic membrane bioreactors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/286 including two or more steps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/348 characterised by the way or the form in which the microorganisms are added or dosed
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• 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 25/10 Hollow fibers or tubes hollow fiber modules in general B01D63/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/02 Percolation
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 3/00 Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02

Abstract

A method for hydrogen production from biodegradable feedstocks in which a feedstock having at least one biodegradable solid is introduced into a first stage anaerobic bioreactor operating at thermophilic conditions to form a liquid effluent which includes fatty acids. The liquid effluent is transferred through a plurality of hollow semipermeable fibers disposed in a second stage anaerobic bioreactor having a light transmitting wall, which hollow semipermeable fibers have an outer surface coated with a biofilm of photosynthetic bacteria, which photosynthetic bacteria, using the nutrients in the hollow fibers and the incoming light, generates hydrogen.

Claims

1. A method for hydrogen production from biodegradable feedstocks comprising the steps of:

introducing a feedstock comprising at least one biodegradable solid into a first stage anaerobic bioreactor operating at thermophilic conditions, forming a liquid effluent;

transferring said liquid effluent through a plurality of hollow semipermeable fibers disposed in a second stage anaerobic bioreactor having a light transmitting wall through which light is transmitted, said hollow semipermeable fibers having an outer surface coated with a biofilm comprising photosynthetic bacteria, forming hydrogen gas; and

exhausting said hydrogen gas from said second stage anaerobic bioreactor.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor is operated with substantially zero-headspace.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor is operated at a temperature in a range of about 45°

C. to about 65°

C.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said liquid effluent comprises at least one fatty acid.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said liquid effluent in said hollow semipermeable fibers is recycled to said first stage anaerobic bioreactor.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor and said second stage anaerobic bioreactor are constantly stirred tank reactors.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said biodegradable solids comprise a material selected from the group consisting of manure, food processing wastes, energy crops and mixtures thereof.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said photosynthetic bacteria comprise at least one of an axenic culture and a mixed culture.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor is an acidogenic bioreactor.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of said liquid effluent in said hollow semipermeable fibers is dewatered, resulting in formation of biosolids.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor generates biosolids.

12. A system for producing hydrogen comprising:

a first stage anaerobic bioreactor vessel having a feedstock inlet and a liquid effluent outlet;

a second stage anaerobic bioreactor vessel having a light transmitting outer wall, a liquid effluent inlet in fluid communication with said liquid effluent outlet and a hydrogen gas outlet;

a plurality of hollow semipermeable fibers disposed in said second stage bioreactor vessel adapted to receive liquid effluent from said liquid effluent inlet; and

at least one photosynthetic bacteria disposed in said second stage anaerobic bioreactor and external to said plurality of hollow semipermeable fibers.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor is operable at substantially zero-headspace.

14. A system in accordance with claim 12 further comprising recycle means for recycling a portion of liquid effluent disposed in said second stage anaerobic bioreactor into said first stage anaerobic bioreactor.

15. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said at least one photosynthetic bacteria is an axenic culture.

16. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said at least one photosynthetic bacteria is a mixed culture.

17. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said first stage anaerobic bioreactor and said second stage anaerobic bioreactor are constantly stirred tank reactors.