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Biogas upgrading with hydrogenotrophic methanogenic biofilms.

Authors :: Maegaard K
Garcia-Robledo E
Kofoed MVW
Agneessens LM
de Jonge N
Nielsen JL
Ottosen LDM
Nielsen LP
Revsbech NP
Source :: Bioresource technology [Bioresour Technol] 2019 Sep; Vol. 287, pp. 121422. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 May 06.
Publication Year :: 2019
Abstract: Hydrogen produced from periodic excess of electrical energy may be added to biogas reactors where it is converted to CH <subscript>4</subscript> that can be utilized in the existing energy grid. The major challenge with this technology is gas-to-liquid mass transfer limitation. The microbial conversions in reactors designed for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis were studied with microsensors for H <subscript>2</subscript> , pH, and CO <subscript>2</subscript> . The H <subscript>2</subscript> consumption potential was dependent on the CO <subscript>2</subscript> concentration, but could partially recover after CO <subscript>2</subscript> depletion. Reactors with 3-dimensional biofilm carrier material and a large gas headspace allowed for a methanogenic biofilm in direct contact with the gas phase. A high density of Methanoculleus sp. in the biofilm mediated a high rate of CH <subscript>4</subscript> production, and it was calculated that a reactor filled with 75% carrier material could mediate a biogas upgrading from 50 to 95% CH <subscript>4</subscript> within 24 h when an equivalent amount of H <subscript>2</subscript> was added.<br /> (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)