2446results about "Gas production bioreactors" patented technology

A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.

A method of generating and recovering gas from naturally existing subsurface formations Of coal, carbonaceous shale or organic-rich shales comprising the steps Of: injecting into fracture of the subsurface formation, under substantially anaerobic conditions, a consortia of selected anaerobic, biological microorganisms for in situ conversion of organic compounds in said formation into methane and other compounds; and producing methane through at least one well extending from said subsurface formation to the surfaces.

Systems and processes for producing hydrogen using bacteria are described. One detailed process for producing hydrogen uses a system for producing hydrogen as described herein, the system including a reactor. Anodophilic bacteria are disposed within the interior of the reactor and an organic material oxidizable by an oxidizing activity of the anodophilic bacteriais introduced and incubated under oxidizing reactions conditions such that electrons are produced and transferred to the anode. A power source is activated to increase a potential between the anode and the cathode, such that electrons and protons combine to produce hydrogen gas. One system for producing hydrogen includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reactor and an exterior of the reaction chamber. An anode is provided which is at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber and a cathode is also provided which is at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber. The cathode is spaced apart at a distance in the range between 0.1-100 centimeters, inclusive, from the anode. A conductive conduit for electrons is provided which is in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode and a power source for enhancing an electrical potential between the anode and cathode is included which is in electrical communication at least with the cathode. A first channel defining a passage from the exterior of the reaction chamber to the interior of the reaction chamber is also included.

A method and plant for the treatment of an organic waste material in liquid form, e.g. liquid manure from livestock, the method comprising filtering fibres and particles from the liquid, subjecting the liquid to anaerobic fermentation in a biogas reactor, separating a substantially sterile and particle-free permeate stream from the biogas reactor, e.g. using ultrafiltration, subjecting the permeate stream to treatment with an ammonia stripper at an elevated temperature and preferably at reduced pressure to remove substantially all ammonia and carbon dioxide and to result in an ammonia fraction and a nutrient salt fraction, and separating the nutrient salt fraction into a fertiliser concentrate fraction and a water fraction, e.g. using reverse osmosis. The end products of the method are clean water, ammonia concentrate, fertiliser concentrate containing salts of P and K, compost and high-quality biogas with a high methane content.

Certain embodiments and aspects of the present invention relate to a photobioreactor including photobioreactor units through which a liquid medium stream and a gas stream flow. The photobioreactor units are floated on a body of water such as a pond or a lake. The liquid medium comprises at least one species of phototrophic organism therein. Certain methods of using the photobioreactor system as part of fuel generation system and/or a gas-treatment process or system at least partially remove certain undesirable pollutants from a gas stream. In certain embodiments, the photobioreactor units are formed of flexible, deformable material and are configured to provide a substantially constant thickness of liquid medium. In certain embodiments, a barrier between the photobioreactor unit and the body of water upon which the unit is floated facilitates thermal communication between the liquid medium and the body of water.

An anaerobic digester system has a vertically upright vessel, a matrix arranged in the vessel supporting a microorganism biomass thereon, an input for supplying an input slurry of liquid and suspended solids at an upper portion of the vessel above the matrix, a gas output at the top of the vessel for withdrawing gas generated by anaerobic digestion of solids, and an effluent output at the bottom of the vessel for withdrawing liquid and remaining solids. The vessel has a preferred liquid height to diameter ratio of 2 to 1, and is constructed of inert fiberglass-reinforced plastic coated with a translucent blue gel pigment layer for filtering light at wavelengths that promote biomass cultivation. The matrix is formed as an array of panels mounted to a spindle with wheels fixed at spaced intervals along its vertical height, and the panel are made of a polyethylene grass matting providing a high surface area to volume ratio of at least 20 to 1. Gas from the top of the vessel is recycled to the bottom to generate bubbles for mixing the feedstock. The related method of anaerobic digestion includes comminuting input wastes with a slurry grinder into a pumpable slurry 8-10 % by weight solids, and providing as the biomass hydrolytic bacteria, and fermentative bacteria including acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria to produce a methane gas product. Other products include an organic soil additive, bacterial solids plant food, and a filtrate used as plant tonic.

This invention provides bioreactors having a selectively permeable porous material with an open pore structure, useful for producing products including hydrogen gas, biomass, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The porous materials are utilized, for example, as one or more portions of or entire walls, covers, floors, filters, windows, or tubes of the bioreactors. This invention provides bioreactors comprising porous materials that are aerogels, xerogels, or sol-gel glasses, including silica aerogels. The selectively permeable porous materials are gas-permeable, and in addition optionally photopermeable, transparent, hydrophobic, and/or capable of functioning as sterile barriers. This invention provides methods for culturing cells and organisms employing the bioreactors of the invention. This invention further provides methods for producing gaseous products, including hydrogen, biomass, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals employing the bioreactors of the invention.

A method for an anaerobic digester system is provided that employs a cumulative data base to better monitor and control the anaerobic process, as compared with conventional anaerobic digester systems. The method includes the storing and ensiling of a feedstock, preferably a biomass, to form a digester feed material, which then processed by a digester. The process evolves a biogas and forms a digested material. The process is monitored, to collect a plurality of digester data from all stages of the process. These individual points or elements of the data are telemetered to a cumulative data base for storage and eventual retrieval and the cumulative data base is mined to compile predictive, feed forward controls and construct feedstock correlations between the metabolic activity within the digesters and an analysis of the feedstocks into the digesters. The method further includes the production of a high quality plant growth media from the digested mash, and recovery of the biogas generated within the digester. The biogas is collected with the aid of a biogas recovery system. The biogas is predominantly methane, and the anaerobic digester system is preferably operated to maximize the quantity and quality of methane generated.

Systems and methods are provided for converting organic waste materials from a municipal waste stream to useful products. Organic waste materials having a wide range of compositions such as, for example, yard waste, food waste, paper, and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste are converted into a uniform biomass that is suitable for conversion to useful products, such as fuels. Through the use of a biomixer and a hydropulper, as well as through sorting and screening, the organic waste materials are progressively reduced in size and cleaned of contamination. The resulting uniform biomass is suitable for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and a residual solid that is suitable for producing a high quality compost.

A method of producing fuel from biodegradable carbonaceous material using a stacked particle bioreactor is provided. A stacked particle bioreactor is formed from particles including biodegradable carbonaceous material. The biodegradable carbonaceous material in the stacked particle bioreactor is aerobically and/or anaerobically bioconverted into one or more synfuels, which are collected from the reactor. The synfuels produced by the method may include synthetic petroleum, alcohol, and/or a gaseous fuel containing methane. Preferably the method includes an aerobic biotreatment phase followed by an anaerobic bioconversion phase. A stacked particle bioreactor for carrying out the anaerobic, and preferably aerobic, degradation is also described.

A method for treating particulate biodegradable organic waste includes sizing the waste and adding a base prior to introducing the waste to a thermal hydrolysis reactor and hydrolyzing the waste at a temperature of about 130° C. or greater and a pressure greater than the saturated water vapor pressure to produce a slurry including solubilized organic material and residual solids. The solubilized organic material is separated from the residual solids using a liquid/solid separator and the solubilized organics are subjected to anaerobic digestion to produce a methane gas. The base is preferably potassium hydroxide (KOH) at a concentration of about 1%. The method may further include preheating the particulate biodegradable organic waste with latent heat of the separated solubilized organic material prior to thermal hydrolysis.

The present invention comprises methods and systems for treating biomass wastes to result in usable byproducts. Biomass is treated to remove debris, transferred to microbial digester units, such as anaerobic and aerobic digesters, and the resultant solids and liquids are provided to an algae production unit. Algae are harvested and beneficial byproducts are retained. Gases, heat and energy produced by energy conversion units are used in units of the system or provided to external sources. Water is cleaned and when separated from the algae and other solids in the algae harvesting unit may be provided to external sources, or may be used in other units of the system. The methods and systems disclosed herein provide for an efficient and substantially complete use of the components of the input biomass.

Increasing competition for fossil fuels, and the need to avoid release carbon dioxide from combustion of these fuels requires development of new and sustainable approaches for energy production and carbon capture. Biological processes for producing methane gas and capturing carbon from carbon dioxide are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include providing an electromethanogenic reactor having an anode, a cathode and a plurality of methanogenic microorganisms disposed on the cathode. Electrons and carbon dioxide are provided to the plurality of methanogenic microorganisms disposed on the cathode. The methanogenic microorganisms reduce the carbon dioxide to produce methane gas, even in the absence of hydrogen and/or organic carbon sources.

A process and an apparatus for the manufacture of biogas and a solids fraction from an organic waste feedstock is provided. The process involves thermal hydrolysis of the organic waste feedstock at a temperature from about 100 to about 220° C., a pressure from about 5 to about 20 bars, for a period of time from about 15 minutes to 4 hours, to produce a hydrolysate. The hydrolysate undergoes anaerobic digestion at a temperature from about 25 to 60° C., for a period of time from about 1 to 35 days to produce a biogas stream and a digestate. The digestate is separated into a solids fraction and a liquid fraction, and a portion of the solids fraction is recycled for further anaerobic digestion. The biogas stream, characterized as having a methane content from between 55 to 80% by volume, and the solids fraction, are recovered. The apparatus includes a receiving bin for receiving and supplying organic waste feedstock to a thermal hydrolysis reactor. The thermal hydrolysis reactor for processing the organic waste feedstock at a temperature from about 100 to about 220° C., a pressure from about 5 to about 20 bars, for a period of time from about 15 minutes to 4 hours to produce a hydrolysate. An anaerobic digester for processing the hydrolysate at a temperature from about 25 to 60° C., for a period of time from about 1 to 35 days to produce the biogas and a digestate, and a solids thickening tank for separating the digestate into the solid fraction, a liquid fraction and a secondary biogas fraction.

A device and method for carbon dioxide sequestering involving the use of a photo-bioreactor with Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) for the cost-effective photo-fixation of carbon dioxide (CO₂). This device and method is useful for removing undesirable carbon dioxide from waste streams.

A method and apparatus for treating organic wastes is provided. Organic wastes are separated into high and low moisture content organic waste streams. The low moisture content organic waste stream is subjected to a gasification process and generates a producer gas. The high moisture content organic waste is subjected to a fermentation process and produces a mixture of ethanol and water. Waste heat from the gasification process is subjected to a distillation column. Vapors recovered from the distillation column are mixed in a hydrous vapor form with the producer gas and produce fuel that can be used as an energy source.

A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.

A biochemical processing apparatus for performing biochemical processing in a container having a plurality of wells capable of holding liquid includes an opening/closing mechanism configured to open or close a lid capable of hermetically and selectively sealing the plurality of wells.

A process for removal and recovery of nutrients and recycling of water from digested manure or other organic wastes. A first step involves separating waste from an anaerobic digester into digested liquids, digested solids, and biogas. A second step involves precipitating solids from the digested liquids. A third step involves stripping ammonia from the digested liquids. A fourth step involves injecting an exhaust stream of carbon dioxide drawn from the co-generator into the digested liquids to reduce the pH and raise the temperature of the digested liquid. A fifth step involves recycling the digested liquids back to the anaerobic digester for use in diluting in coming solid wastes. A sixth step involves passing the excess ammonia stripped from the digested liquid through the digested solids to recover nitrogen through aborption with the resultant digested solids being usable as a biofertilizer with a high nitrogen content. A seventh step involves capturing the biogas for use in a co-generation system.

A method of converting CO₂ gas produced during industrial processes comprising contacting methanogenic archaea with the CO₂ gas under suitable conditions to produce methane.

The present invention provides methods for the generation of methane by a two phase anaerobic phase system (APS) digestion of organic substrates. Also provided is a device for practicing the methods of the invention. The APS-digester system is a space-efficient, high-rate solids digestion system. The APS-digester system consists of one or more hydrolysis reactors, a buffer tank and one biogasification reactor.

The invention discloses a reutilization treatment method of kitchen waste, belonging to the technical field of rubbish treatment; the kitchen waste is treated by such procedures as pre-sorting, hydraulic pulping, anaerobic fermentation, organic fertilizer preparation by residues and oil-water separation, and the like, so that the grease in the kitchen waste is recycled, the organic matters are prepared to marsh gas by hydrolytic acidification and anaerobic fermentation, and the marsh gas is purified to be used as fuel, power generation or automobile fuel gas; in the whole treatment process, the liquid part in the kitchen waste except the removed grease is used for pulping in a pulp homogenizing system, all pulp participate in the anaerobic fermentation process, and the fermented biogas slurry is after-treated to prepare nutrient solution so as to realize the recycle of resources and zero release of pollutants; the treatment process is completely sealed, and the collected off-flavor is collected and treated by a deodorization system to be exhausted after reaching to the discharge standard. The method of the invention has the advantages of maximally recycling the resources, recycling the kitchen waste, guaranteeing non-pollutant discharge during the whole treatment process, and realizing the efficiency, reclamation and harmlessness of kitchen waste treatment.

A method for the gasification of a hydrocarbon-bearing feedstock to produce useful co-products such as high-value hydrocarbon fuels, pure H₂, electricity, and/or ammonia. The method advantageously gasifies the carbon in the feedstock to carbon monoxide (CO) without producing large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Supplemental hydrogen (H₂) is also produced by reacting steam (H₂O) with a metal. The method can advantageously produce two separate syngas streams, one that is CO-rich and one that is H₂-rich.

A method to stimulate the biogenic production of a metabolite with enhanced hydrogen content that includes forming an opening in a geologic formation to provide access to a consortium of microorganisms, and injecting water into the opening to disperse at least a portion of the consortium over a larger region of a hydrocarbon deposit. The method may also include measuring a change in the rate of production of the metabolite in the formation. Also, an method to stimulate biogenic production of a metabolite that includes measuring a salinity level of formation water in a geologic formation, and injecting water into the opening to reduce the salinity level of the formation water in the formation. The method may also include measuring a change in the rate of production of the metabolite in the formation.

An apparatus for the anaerobic digestion of solid waste is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pre-digestion treatment chamber and an anaerobic digester chamber coupled to the pre-digestion treatment chamber. A liquid suspension of solid waste is pretreated under aerobic conditions by heating to a desired pre-digestion temperature. One or more chemical or biological additives are added to the suspension of solid waste to improve the anaerobic digestibility of the solid waste. This may include enzymes to destruct poorly digestible solids and/or materials to provide a desired C:N ratio in the solid waste. The apparatus may include mixers, heaters, chemical or biological additives as needed, various sensors and probes, and a control system to monitor and control the anaerobic digestion process and maintain microbial health of the digester.

The invention provides an automated apparatus of cell culture having tanks of culture medium, of growth factors and of cells to be cultured, an incubator having a thermostated enclosure which houses a cell culture vessel, and control computer system. A supporting and agitation device of the culture vessel is provided in the enclosure, and the culture vessel is formed by a bag having at least one inlet port connected to the tanks and one outlet port connected devices for harvesting and storage of the cells after culture, these harvesting and storage devices and tanks being located outside the enclosure and being connected to the cell expansion bag ports by conduits which together with the cell expansion bag form a preassembled module passing through a wall of the enclosure.

A method and system for hydrogen production in which a feedstock of at least one biodegradable solid is introduced into a first stage anaerobic bioreactor and a liquid effluent formed. The liquid effluent is transferred into a second stage anaerobic bioreactor having a plurality of hollow semipermeable fibers having an outer surface coated with a biofilm formed by at least one hydrogenogenic bacteria, which forms hydrogen gas within the lumen of the hollow semipermeable fibers. The hydrogen thus produced is removed from the lumen of the hollow semipermeable fibers.

The invention discloses an anaerobic fermentation-incineration combined treatment method for organic wastes. The anaerobic fermentation-incineration combined treatment method is characterized by comprising the following steps of: firstly, crushing the organic wastes, feeding the crushed organic wastes into a slurry mixing pool to be mixed with water or a methane solution to form a fermentation raw material, and feeding the fermentation raw material into an anaerobic fermentation tank for anaerobic fermentation treatment; secondly, performing solid-liquid separation treatment on residual slurry to form the methane solution and dehydrated methane slag; thirdly, making partial methane solution flow back to the slurry mixing pool, discharging surplus methane solution outwards to a sewage treatment facility; fourthly, feeding the dehydrated methane slag into a methane slag drying machine by taking methane generated by the anaerobic fermentation tank as fuel for heating, wherein the moisture content of the dried methane slag is made lower than 40%; fifthly, incinerating the dried methane slag subjected to drying treatment by using the methane collected from the anaerobic fermentation tank as auxiliary fuel for methane slag combustion; and sixthly, producing steam or hot water by a waste heat boiler by using high-temperature flue gas discharged from a methane slag incineration furnace, and supplying the steam or the hot water to the fermentation tank to serve as a hot source for heating or heat insulating. According to the invention, the anaerobic fermentation and the incineration treatment are organically combined, the advantages of the anaerobic fermentation and the incineration treatment are fully exerted, and the reduction, harmlessness and the recycling of rubbish are facilitated.

A method for processing organic material, in which method bioconversion is performed on the organic material in at least one first reactor, the biogas formed in the bioconversion is treated with ammonia in at least one second reactor and buffer solution produced in the second reactor is recycled to the bioconversion in the first reactor. Thus, the carbon dioxide of the mixed methane/carbon dioxide gas reacts with the ammonia and forms a buffer compound, such as ammonium bicarbonate and/or ammonium carbonate.

The present invention is directed to aquatic systems and methods for off-shore energy production, and particularly to systems and methods for generating large amounts of methane via anaerobic digestion, purifying the methane produced, and sequestering environmentally deleterious by-products such as carbon dioxide. The energy production systems contain one or more flexible, inflatable containers supported by water, at least one of which is an anaerobic digester containing bacteria which can produce energy sources such as methane or hydrogen from aquatic plants or animals. The containers of the present invention can be large enough to provide adequate amounts of energy to support off-shore activities yet are relatively easy to manufacture and ship to remote production sites. The systems can also be readily adapted to sequester carbon dioxide or recycle nutrients for growing feedstocks on site.