Method and apparatus for syngas fermentation with high CO mass transfer coefficient

Abstract

A process and apparatus is provided which are effective for improving CO mass transfer. The process includes introducing syngas into a reactor vessel through a gas sparger located below a liquid level in the reactor vessel. The syngas being introduced at a flow rate effective for maintaining a pressure inside of the reactor vessel of at least about 1 psig. An agitation energy of about 0.01 to about 12 kWatts / m3 medium is provided. The process is effective for providing a volumetric CO mass transfer coefficient of about 100 to about 1500 per hour.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to US Provisional Application Nos. 61 / 571,564 and 61 / 571,565, filed June 30, 2011, and 61 / 573,845, filed September 13, 2011, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety This article. technical field [0002] The present application provides methods and apparatuses for effectively enhancing carbon monoxide (CO) mass transfer. More specifically, factors including syngas quality, syngas injection, reactor pressure, and mixing are balanced to provide enhanced volumetric CO mass transfer coefficients during syngas fermentation. Background technique [0003] Anaerobic microorganisms can produce ethanol from carbon monoxide (CO) by fermentation of gaseous substrates. Fermentation using anaerobic microorganisms from the genus Clostridium produces ethanol and other useful products. For example, US Patent No. 5,173,429 describes Clostridium ljungdahlii ATCC No. 49587, an anaerobic microorganism that produces ethanol and acetate from ...

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Problems solved by technology

Fermentations that utilize gaseous substrates to provide the carbon and energy source for fermentation are particularly challenging due to the need to dissolve large quantities of the substrate in the fermentation broth before metabolism can occur

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