Loop Reactor Single Cell Protein Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current single cell protein production processes are limited by dependence on natural gas availability, fluctuating fossil fuel costs, environmental impact, and complexity, necessitating an improved method that is independent of gas location, cost-stable, environmentally friendly, and more efficient.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing a Loop reactor system where methanogenic microorganisms ferment gaseous hydrogen and carbon sources like carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide to produce single cell protein, decoupling the fermentation process from natural gas reliance and enhancing efficiency and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If natural gas is used as carbon source for SCP production, then the fermentation process can proceed, but the process becomes dependent on natural gas availability and location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the carbon source parameter from methane (natural gas) to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. This substitution allows the fermentation process to use syngas as substrate, which can be produced from various sources including biomass gasification, thereby enabling location-independent SCP production while maintaining fermentation continuity.
2Reliability
If natural gas is transported to SCP fermenter, then fermentation can proceed, but additional transportation costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces syngas as an intermediary substance that can be locally produced through biomass gasification or other means. Instead of transporting natural gas to the fermenter, the intermediary syngas is generated on-site or nearby, eliminating transportation costs while ensuring continuous fermentation supply.
3Productivity
If methane from fossil fuels is used, then SCP production can proceed, but environmental harm and cost fluctuations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts potentially harmful greenhouse gases (carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) into beneficial SCP product. By using these gases as carbon sources for methanogenic bacteria, the process transforms environmental pollutants into valuable protein-rich biomass, reducing environmental harm while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the carbon source parameter from fossil fuel-derived methane to alternative carbon sources including syngas from biomass gasification. This substitution enables SCP production to proceed while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and associated environmental harm and cost fluctuations.
4Loss of substance
If co-fermentation of multiple microorganisms is used to digest natural gas, then complete substrate utilization is achieved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses on a single microorganism type (methanogenic bacteria) that can efficiently utilize syngas components. Instead of using complex co-fermentation systems for natural gas, the invention isolates the essential function of syngas fermentation to a single microbial group, simplifying the system while maintaining substrate utilization efficiency.
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 approach allows for flexible location-independent SCP production, reduces environmental impact, and increases productivity and efficiency by using hydrogen and carbon dioxide as carbon sources, eliminating the need for methane and minimizing environmental harm.
Implementation Method 1
Single cell protein (SCP) may be grown by fermentation of biomass through the growth of the microorganisms on hydrocarbon, nitrogen, and other substrates
Implementation Method 2
The microorganisms traditionally used for producing SCP are methylotrophic microorganisms or methanotrophic microorganisms. These microorganisms digest methane provided in the form of natural gas (as carbon source gas), and in the presence of an oxygen compound and a nitrogen compound and convert this to biomass that ends up as the SCP product
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for providing a first reaction product by a first fermentation process conducted in a first Loop reactor, the method comprising the steps of: (i) adding an inoculum comprising one or more methanogenic microorganism to the first Loop reactor providing a first inoculated fermentation medium; (ii) adding a gaseous hydrogen (H2) to the first inoculated fermentation medium; (iii) adding a first carbon source to the first inoculated fermentation medium; (iv) allowing the first fermentation medium to ferment, providing the first reaction product; and (v) isolating the first reaction product provided in step (iv).