Chemoautotrophic conversion of carbon oxides in industrial waste to biomass and chemical products
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a cement manufacturing facility including a cement kiln and an exhaust gas system configured to capture the exhaust gas from the cement kiln;
a bioreactor system including a bioreactor in fluid communication with the exhaust gas system and configured to produce a chemical product from a carbon oxide in a first gaseous stream from the exhaust gas system, the first gaseous stream including the exhaust gas from the cement kiln;
a gas mixing unit in fluid communication between the exhaust gas system and the bioreactor; and
an electrolysis system configured to produce a molecular hydrogen stream, wherein the gas mixing unit is configured to receive the molecular hydrogen stream, wherein the electrolysis system is configured to produce a molecular oxygen stream, and wherein the gas mixing unit is configured to receive the molecular oxygen stream independent from the molecular hydrogen stream.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for employing chemoautotrophic micro-organisms to capture carbon from industrial waste are provided. An exemplary system comprises an industrial source, such as a cement plant, and a bioreactor including the micro-organisms. The bioreactor is fed the waste stream from the source, which provides carbon to the micro-organisms, and is also fed hydrogen, from which the micro-organisms derive their energy. Additional or alternative carbon can be provided from a gasifier fed an organic feedstock. The carbon provided to the micro-organisms is converted into chemical products which can be recovered from the bioreactor. Hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis using electricity generated by a renewable energy source.
27 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a cement manufacturing facility including a cement kiln and an exhaust gas system configured to capture the exhaust gas from the cement kiln; a bioreactor system including a bioreactor in fluid communication with the exhaust gas system and configured to produce a chemical product from a carbon oxide in a first gaseous stream from the exhaust gas system, the first gaseous stream including the exhaust gas from the cement kiln; a gas mixing unit in fluid communication between the exhaust gas system and the bioreactor; and an electrolysis system configured to produce a molecular hydrogen stream, wherein the gas mixing unit is configured to receive the molecular hydrogen stream, wherein the electrolysis system is configured to produce a molecular oxygen stream, and wherein the gas mixing unit is configured to receive the molecular oxygen stream independent from the molecular hydrogen stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a cement manufacturing facility including a cement kiln and an exhaust gas system configured to capture the exhaust gas from the cement kiln; a bioreactor system including a bioreactor in fluid communication with the exhaust gas system and configured to produce a chemical product from a carbon oxide in a first gaseous stream from the exhaust gas system, the first gaseous stream including the exhaust gas from the cement kiln; a gas mixing unit in fluid communication between the exhaust gas system and the bioreactor, the gas mixing unit being further configured to receive air through an input that is separate from inputs for the molecular hydrogen stream and for the flow of exhaust gas; an electrolysis system configured to produce a molecular hydrogen stream, and wherein the gas mixing unit is configured to receive the molecular hydrogen stream; and a controller configured to regulate the flow of the molecular hydrogen stream and the flow of the exhaust gas into the gas mixing unit, wherein the controller is further configured to regulate the flow of air into the gas mixing unit while admitting the molecular hydrogen stream into the gas mixing unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification