Method and apparatus for membrane-based, two-stage gas production from solid biomaterials
First Claim
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1. A method for producing gas from a biomaterial comprising the steps of:
- fermenting the biomaterial using anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation;
photofermentating;
removing the gas;
maintaining a pH during at least one stage of the method;
the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation and the photofermentating take place in a single vessel comprising a multi-stage reactor and a gas-specific membrane;
the 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; and
the single vessel comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein a portion of the tubes divide the leach-bed reactor from the suspended-growth reactor within the single vessel, and an annular space between the tubes dividing the leach-bed reactor from the suspended-growth reactor.
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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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for producing gas from a biomaterial comprising the steps of:
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fermenting the biomaterial using anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation; photofermentating; removing the gas; maintaining a pH during at least one stage of the method; the anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation and the photofermentating take place in a single vessel comprising a multi-stage reactor and a gas-specific membrane; the 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; and the single vessel comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein a portion of the tubes divide the leach-bed reactor from the suspended-growth reactor within the single vessel, and an annular space between the tubes dividing the leach-bed reactor from the suspended-growth reactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification