Halophyte Biomass Conversion to Biogas via Saline Anaerobic Digestion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biofuel production from land crops faces environmental and economic criticisms due to land usage competition, water demand, and low energy yields, necessitating alternative solutions.

Innovation Solution

Producing biofuel from halophyte substrates using halophilic microbes in a saline medium, where the halophyte is grown in saline conditions and digested to produce methane, eliminating the need for fresh water and arable land, with mild pretreatment conditions and adapted microbial cultures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If land crops are used for biofuel production, then energy production yields are achieved, but land usage competition and fresh water demand increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy production yieldVSAvoidfresh water demand

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the water salinity parameter from fresh water to saline water (seawater with salt concentration of 30-60 g/L NaCl eq), enabling biofuel production without competing for fresh water resources. Halophytic plants are specifically selected and cultivated in these saline conditions to maintain productivity while eliminating fresh water demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using fresh water for irrigation as in conventional biofuel production, the invention inverts the approach by using saline water/seawater as the growth medium. This inversion allows utilization of non-potable water sources that would otherwise be unsuitable for agriculture, thereby resolving the fresh water demand issue while maintaining energy production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If conventional anaerobic digestion is used for biomass conversion, then biogas is produced, but high hydrogen sulfide content and operational costs result

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiogas productionVSAvoidhydrogen sulfide content

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a two-stage anaerobic digestion process where the first stage uses halophilic microorganisms in saline medium to specifically suppress hydrogen sulfide generation. This localized quality control in the first stage prevents harmful factor formation before the second stage, resulting in biogas with low hydrogen sulfide content while maintaining overall biogas production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses halophilic microorganisms as an intermediary in the first digestion stage. These specialized microorganisms act as a mediator that processes the halophytic biomass under saline conditions, preventing the formation of hydrogen sulfide while producing intermediates for the second stage digestion, thereby reducing harmful factors in the final biogas product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If severe pretreatment is applied to biomass, then digestion efficiency is improved, but process complexity and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigestion efficiencyVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The halophytic plants are cultivated in saline water conditions that naturally prepare the biomass for anaerobic digestion. The plants' growth environment self-prepares the substrate by accumulating specific compounds and structural characteristics that facilitate subsequent digestion, reducing the need for severe external pretreatment processes and thereby simplifying the overall process while maintaining digestion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method efficiently converts halophyte biomass into high-quality methane biofuel with low hydrogen sulfide content, reducing environmental impact and operational costs, and demonstrates the potential for sustainable biofuel production without competing for fresh water or arable land.

Implementation Method 1

digesting the halophyte substrate with the culture for a time sufficient to produce a biofuel therefrom

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnaerobic digestion: Anaerobic Digestion

Implementation Method 2

the hydrolysis is carried out in a saline solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS9422579B2Method for conversion of halophytic biomass to biogas via thalassic anaerobic digestion

Publication Date: 2016.08.23 KHALIFA UNIV OF SCI & TECH

AI summary

Described is a process for the conversion of halophytic plant biomass containing saline organic solids into biogas through anaerobic digestion. Operation of the process with saline (e.g., seawater) as liquid media under the method conditions taught leads to biological conversion of the organic matter into biogas. Additionally described is a method for pretreatment of the biomass under mild physicochemical conditions to increase the bioavailable fraction of the biomass for conversion.