GB2592841A - Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae - Google Patents

Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2592841A
GB2592841A GB1900698.0A GB201900698A GB2592841A GB 2592841 A GB2592841 A GB 2592841A GB 201900698 A GB201900698 A GB 201900698A GB 2592841 A GB2592841 A GB 2592841A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
algae
carbon dioxide
gas
liquid
dissolver
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1900698.0A
Other versions
GB201900698D0 (en
Inventor
Morris David
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Autichem Ltd
Original Assignee
Autichem Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Autichem Ltd filed Critical Autichem Ltd
Priority to GB1900698.0A priority Critical patent/GB2592841A/en
Publication of GB201900698D0 publication Critical patent/GB201900698D0/en
Publication of GB2592841A publication Critical patent/GB2592841A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D53/00Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/34Chemical or biological purification of waste gases
    • B01D53/46Removing components of defined structure
    • B01D53/62Carbon oxides
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12MAPPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M21/00Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses
    • C12M21/02Photobioreactors
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D53/00Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/34Chemical or biological purification of waste gases
    • B01D53/74General processes for purification of waste gases; Apparatus or devices specially adapted therefor
    • B01D53/84Biological processes
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12MAPPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M1/00Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology
    • C12M1/107Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology with means for collecting fermentation gases, e.g. methane
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12MAPPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M47/00Means for after-treatment of the produced biomass or of the fermentation or metabolic products, e.g. storage of biomass
    • C12M47/18Gas cleaning, e.g. scrubbers; Separation of different gases
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2256/00Main component in the product gas stream after treatment
    • B01D2256/24Hydrocarbons
    • B01D2256/245Methane
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2257/00Components to be removed
    • B01D2257/50Carbon oxides
    • B01D2257/504Carbon dioxide
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2258/00Sources of waste gases
    • B01D2258/05Biogas
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02ATECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A50/00TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
    • Y02A50/20Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02CCAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]
    • Y02C20/00Capture or disposal of greenhouse gases
    • Y02C20/40Capture or disposal of greenhouse gases of CO2
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/30Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/50Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
    • Y02P20/59Biological synthesis; Biological purification

Abstract

Microalgae may sequester carbon, creating biomass. Algae may remove CO2 from raw biogas. Biomethane/biogas 1 and/or CO2 can be injected into a gas dissolver 2 containing algae. The liquid (containing algae) can be saturated with carbon dioxide, and held in an absorption tank 4, before entering digester 5. Methane may be vented. Light in the digester 5 can allow the microalgae in the liquid to grow, digesting the carbon dioxide, forming biomass. Recycled liquid can be fed back into the gas dissolver 2. Harvested biomass from the outlet 6 can be used for biofuel production. The gas absorber 2 may have a rotating cylinder within a sealed tube (figure 2), creating high shear in the gas and liquid mixture, increasing gas/algae interaction. A second gas dissolver may be used to remove more carbon dioxide. Output may include protein and lipids. The liquid may be water.

Description

TREATMENT OF CARBON DIOXIDE CONTAINING MATERIALS WITH ALGAE
Previous laboratory and pilot studies have demonstrated the prospect of using algae for capturing greenhouse gas. However, the incumbent processing methodologies rely on sparging, a method that has proven inefficient due to severe gas escape. Sparging delivers a relatively low concentration of dissolved carbon to the algae and thereby poor growth yields are experienced. We have found that the concentration can be increased particularly by using a bioreactor such as the one developed by Autichem Ltd, as described in GB patent applications 2545924 and GB2545927. Additionally, by increasing the efficiency of delivery of CO2 to algae the amount of light energy required to fix the carbon is also reduced.
Algae is capable of sequestering CO2 and have higher CO2 biofixation than terrestrial plants. Algae can fix CO2 through photosynthesis to produce carbohydrate, lipids and other valuable products.
Algae are a ubiquitous group of photosynthetic organisms and are found in the ocean, freshwater bodies, on rock, soils and on vegetation. Their simple cellular structure makes them efficient converters of solar energy and fixes carbon dioxide and producing approximately half of the global atmospheric oxygen.
Algae can grow in wastewater and perform a triple role of wastewater remediation, biomass production and carbon capturing. The biomass from the algae can be used to produce products including biofuel, biofertilizer and palm oil alternatives.
The addition of CO2 gas to algae growing in wastewater can provide extra carbon source and consequentially increase the nutrient removal efficiency from the wastewater.
A dynamic mixed flow reactor such as that developed by Autichem Ltd provides an efficient means of dissolution of gases in aqueous medium. The system uses a tubular and rotating component to create and breaks bubbles for effective adsorption of gas in liquid. The reactor can be used to dynamically mix CO2 gas continuously with algae culture and thereby increasing the retention time of CO2 in the culture and enabling capture of larger amounts of the 002. Further reaction stages allow the algae to assimilate the dissolved CO2 and allow recovery/conversion.
Improved carbon capture and bioqas treatment process In one embodiment the invention provides more efficient mixing of liquid and or gases containing sources of carbon and microalgae. The improved mixing in the system enables the microalgae to sequestrate any carbon with increased productivity. The biomass produced by this system is suitable for conversion to a range of other valuable products.
An alternative embodiment of the invention allows the use of algae for removing CO2 from raw Biogas. Biogases include, but are not limited to, Bio-methane and Bio-hydrogen. In this instance the systems produces upgraded Biogas and can provide a biomass suitable for conversion to a range of other valuable products.
Raw Bio-methane is primarily a mixture of methane (CH4) and inert carbonic gas (CO2). The presence of 002, water and H2S make biogas very corrosive and requires the use of expensive resistant materials leading to high equipment costs. The composition of a gas produced from a digester depends on the substrate, on its organic matter load and on the feeding rate of the digester. This variability in product composition and the relatively poor calorific value means that the use of biogas for combustion is not always a good economic option without additional processing and expense. However the upgrading of the biogas by removal of the more soluble CO2 by algae according to this invention generates new possibilities for its use since it can then replace natural gas, which is used extensively in many countries. This invention therefore provides an optimized upgrading process in terms of low energy consumption and high efficiency giving high methane content in the upgraded gas. The invention further provides a continuous multistage bioprocess, that increases the efficiency of delivering CO2 to algae with no gas escape and thereby providing a pathway for the commercial implementation of CO2 capturing using algae. An additional feature is the ability to remove CO2 from the waste gas.
Accordingly in one embodiment this invention provides a method and equipment to convert biogas into a more useful fuel. Furthermore this provides a method and equipment for converting CO2 into a useful fuel. The product of the process is a fuel in the form of combustible gas or a combustible liquid or both.
The present invention is illustrated by the accompanying Figures in which Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a process and apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is an illustration of the gas dissolver used in the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3A compares the composition of an influent biomethane stream to the apparatus of Figure 1 and composition of output of the apparatus.
Figure 33 compares the specific energy in the influent and effluent streams of Figure 3A.
Figure 1 shows a schematic of a process according to one embodiment of the invention. Gas (1) is injected into a gas dissolver (2). The gas is biogas. Algae are provided in the gas dissolver (2). Gas in the form of CO2 can also be injected as an alternative to the biogas. In most cases both biogas and CO2 will be injected together or at different stages. A fluid is injected into the gas dissolver (7) which operates on a recycle loop. Gas, liquid and algae pass through the gas dissolver (2) in a flow pattern which is substantially plug flow. The algae containing liquid discharging from the gas dissolver is saturated with CO2 and is held in the absorption tank (4). Excess gas passes to a vent line (3). The high concentration of CO2 in the absorption tank (4) ensures that the CO2 is absorbed into the live microalgae where the feed is bio-methane, the methane from which the CO2 has been removed may be vented at line 3 and may be used for fuel purposes. Fluid passes from the absorption tank to a digester (5). The lower concentration of CO2 in the digester (5) combined with a light source allows the microalgae to grow and in doing so digest the CO2 to form biomass. The source of light may be natural light or artificial light. CO2 is replenished by recycling fluid through the gas dissolver into which CO2 and or Biogas is added. The biomass is harvested from the outlet (6) and may be used for the production of biofuels and other products.
The process described above may be operated in batch or continuous mode. Chemical addition or treatment may also be added to maintain the right conditions for microalgae growth. This includes but is not exclusive to materials or methods to control pH, nutrient addition, neutralisation or removal of harmful materials or removal of particulates.
Patents GB2545927 and GB2545924 describe a novel continuous reactor which may be used as the gas absorber (2) used in this invention. Figure 2 shows the key elements of the reactor which comprises a sealed tube (9) with a gas feed connection (8), a liquid feed connection (12) and a discharge connection (11). The gas feed (8) and liquid feed (12) connections may be combined into a single connection. A mixing element (10) in the form of a rotating cylinder is located within the sealed tube (9). The rotational movement of element (10) is generated by a drive system (13). The drive system may be an external motor or hydraulic or pneumatic drive connected to the mixing element by a shaft. A mechanical seal or magnetic coupling may be used to keep the system sealed. Alternatively a magnetic drive system may be used.
The rotating mixer (10) creates an annual space between the mixer and the reactor wall and exposes the gas and liquid mixture to high shear which increases the interaction between the gas and the algae. The high shear creates a high interfacial area between the gas and the algae containing liquid and also reduces boundary layer resistance.
The gas discharge from the absorption vessel may also pass through a second gas dissolver 10 to remove 002.
Example
A stream of carbon dioxide was passed through the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and the algae growth parameter was compared with a run in which the stream was biomethane of content roughly 40% methane and 60% carbon dioxide and the results were as follows.
Biomethane CO2 Carbon Biofixation rate (g L-1 day -1) 0.991 ± 0.227 1.057 ± 0.192 Biomass Productivity (g L d -1) 0.462 ± 0.028 0.481 ± 0.038 Algae Growth rate (d -1) 0.368 ± 0.037 0.422 ± 0.052

Claims (3)

  1. CLAIMS1. A process for the extraction of carbon dioxide from biomethane comprising digesting the carbon dioxide in the biomethane with algae and venting off methane.
  2. 2 A process comprising intimately mixing a carbon dioxide containing feed, algae and water allowing the algae to absorb the carbon dioxide and convert the carbon dioxide into protein and lipids which are recovered wherein the pH increases through the process.
  3. 3 An apparatus for carbon capture comprising means to deliver a carbon dioxide containing feed to a dissolver and means to deliver algae and a liquid to the dissolver wherein the carbon dioxide is intimately mixed with the algae containing liquid in the dissolver and containing an absorber vessel wherein the algae absorbs the carbon dioxide and further containing a converter vessel wherein the carbon dioxide is converted to protein and lipids.
GB1900698.0A 2019-01-18 2019-01-18 Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae Withdrawn GB2592841A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1900698.0A GB2592841A (en) 2019-01-18 2019-01-18 Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1900698.0A GB2592841A (en) 2019-01-18 2019-01-18 Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201900698D0 GB201900698D0 (en) 2019-03-06
GB2592841A true GB2592841A (en) 2021-09-15

Family

ID=65528150

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1900698.0A Withdrawn GB2592841A (en) 2019-01-18 2019-01-18 Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2592841A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112940911A (en) * 2021-03-01 2021-06-11 王锐群 Biomass natural gas fermentation tank

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4354936A (en) * 1980-05-20 1982-10-19 The Agency Of Industrial Science And Technology Anaerobic digestion process
CN101870894A (en) * 2009-04-21 2010-10-27 张扬 Method and biological plant for removing carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from methane by using microecology principle
WO2013034947A1 (en) * 2011-09-08 2013-03-14 Cellennium (Thailand) Company Limited Upgrading of biogas to marketable purified methane exploiting microalgae farming
US20130236951A1 (en) * 2012-03-07 2013-09-12 National Chiao Tung University Microalgae for Removal of Carbon Dioxide Generated from Biogas and Biogas Electric Generator

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4354936A (en) * 1980-05-20 1982-10-19 The Agency Of Industrial Science And Technology Anaerobic digestion process
CN101870894A (en) * 2009-04-21 2010-10-27 张扬 Method and biological plant for removing carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from methane by using microecology principle
WO2013034947A1 (en) * 2011-09-08 2013-03-14 Cellennium (Thailand) Company Limited Upgrading of biogas to marketable purified methane exploiting microalgae farming
US20130236951A1 (en) * 2012-03-07 2013-09-12 National Chiao Tung University Microalgae for Removal of Carbon Dioxide Generated from Biogas and Biogas Electric Generator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201900698D0 (en) 2019-03-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
Pahunang et al. Advances in technological control of greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater in the context of circular economy
US10179895B2 (en) Device for fuel and chemical production from biomass-sequestered carbon dioxide and method therefor
US4358537A (en) In situ biological beneficiation of peat in the production of hydrocarbon fuels
KR101927378B1 (en) Carbon dioxide capturing and resourceization system in exhaust gas
Zhang et al. Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge for municipal wastewater treatment: From concept to practice
Ficara et al. Growth of microalgal biomass on supernatant from biosolid dewatering
Yellezuome et al. Integration of two-stage anaerobic digestion process with in situ biogas upgrading
WO2022008478A2 (en) Process for producing single cell protein
WO2010056460A2 (en) Reduction of carbon dioxide in a fermentation process
US9745895B2 (en) Method and an apparatus for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process
Torres et al. Biogas treatment for H2S, CO2, and other contaminants removal
Lóránt et al. Current status of biological biogas upgrading technologies
CN113735400A (en) Coupling treatment method for vinasse and high-concentration wastewater generated after brewing of white spirit
GB2592841A (en) Treatment of carbon dioxide containing materials with algae
JP2006255538A (en) Method and apparatus for treatment of food waste
JP3873114B2 (en) Processing method of organic solid waste
Méndez et al. Decarbonization potentials using photobiological systems
WO2021244872A1 (en) Process for the biological production of hydrogen and/or methane by absorption and biological conversion of carbon dioxide
Tomar et al. Microalgae: A promising source for biofuel production
C Ncibi et al. Recent patents and research studies on biogas production from bioresources and wastes
CN101130787A (en) Method and device for processing hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide gas in biogas and recycling bacteria liquid by microbiological method
Busch Biogas technology
Kim et al. Enhancement of carbon dioxide reduction and methane production by an obligate anaerobe and gas dissolution device
KR102093895B1 (en) Biomethanation process for biogas upgrading
KR20090129786A (en) Method and apparatus for bio-hydrogen gas production from organic waste by using inhibitor for methane producing microorganisms and gas purging under low ph condition

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)