Method for converting biomass to methane
First Claim
1. A method for converting a wastewater treatment sludge in a biotreatment process to produce a methanaceous fuel gas, comprising:
- treating said sludge by way of anaerobic biological treatment step to produce a methanaceous fuel gas and a dewatered solids stream;
subjecting said dewatered solids stream to pyrolysis to produce (a) a pyroligneous liquid containing biotreatable liquid substances, (b) a pyrogas, and (c) pyrosolids including char;
separating said pyrosolids from said pyroligneous liquid and pyrogas; and
subjecting said pyroligneous liquid to said anaerobic biological treatment step to produce additional methanaceous fuel gas.
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Abstract
A method for enhancing the treatment of lignocellulose-containing materials by biotreatment wherein such lignocellulose-containing materials, normally resistant to biotreatment, are first subjected to a low-temperature, long-residence time pyrolysis at about 175° C. to about 325° C. for about 0.1 hour to about 2.0 hours, wherein a substantial portion of the incoming material is distilled into water-soluble compounds amenable to anaerobic biotreatment. Exemplary applications of the method include pyrolytic pre-treatment of wastewater sludges, cellulosic wastes, wood, peat, plant residues, low-grade coal, and the like to enhance methane gas production in anaerobic digestion and/or oxygen-limited or oxygen-starved fermentation to produce ethanol.
33 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for converting a wastewater treatment sludge in a biotreatment process to produce a methanaceous fuel gas, comprising:
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treating said sludge by way of anaerobic biological treatment step to produce a methanaceous fuel gas and a dewatered solids stream; subjecting said dewatered solids stream to pyrolysis to produce (a) a pyroligneous liquid containing biotreatable liquid substances, (b) a pyrogas, and (c) pyrosolids including char; separating said pyrosolids from said pyroligneous liquid and pyrogas; and subjecting said pyroligneous liquid to said anaerobic biological treatment step to produce additional methanaceous fuel gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for treating lignocellulose-containing material, comprising the steps of:
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introducing lignocellulose-containing material to an anaerobic biotreatment step wherein methanogenic microorganisms produce a methane-containing biogas and an aqueous stream containing residual biosolids; dewatering said residual biosolids; subjecting said residual biosolids materials to a pyrolysis to produce a pyrolysis product comprising a pyrogas; introducing at least a portion of said pyrogas to said anaerobic biotreatment step, wherein said introduced pyrogas portion mixes with said biogas produced in said anaerobic biotreatment step; and separating and removing said mixed pyrogas and biogas for use as a fuel gas. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification