1
|
Baransi-Karkaby K, Yanuka-Golub K, Hassanin M, Massalha N, Sabbah I. In-situ biological biogas upgrading using upflow anaerobic polyfoam bioreactor: Operational and biological aspects. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 39036861 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
A high rate upflow anaerobic polyfoam-based bioreactor (UAPB) was developed for lab-scale in-situ biogas upgrading by H2 injection. The reactor, with a volume of 440 mL, was fed with synthetic wastewater at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.5 g COD/L·day and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 7.33 h. The use of a porous diffuser, alongside high gas recirculation, led to a higher H2 liquid mass transfer, and subsequently to a better uptake for high CH4 content of 56% (starting from 26%). Our attempts to optimize both operational parameters (H2 flow rate and gas recirculation ratio, which is the total flow rate of recirculated gas over the total outlet of gas flow rate) were not initially successful, however, at a very high recirculation ratio (32) and flow rate (54 mL/h), a significant improvement of the hydrogen consumption was achieved. These operational conditions have in turn driven the methanogenic community toward the dominance of Methanosaetaceae, which out-competed Methanosarcinaceae. Nevertheless, highly stable methane production rates of 1.4-1.9 L CH4/Lreactor.day were observed despite the methanogenic turnover. During the different applied operational conditions, the bacterial community was especially impacted, resulting in substantial shifts of taxonomic groups. Notably, Aeromonadaceae was the only bacterial group positively correlated with increasing hydrogen consumption rates. The capacity of Aeromonadaceae to extracellularly donate electrons suggests that direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) enhanced biogas upgrading. Overall, the proposed innovative biological in-situ biogas upgrading technology using the UAPB configuration shows promising results for stable, simple, and effective biological biogas upgrading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Baransi-Karkaby
- The Institute of Applied Research, The Galilee Society, Shefa-Amr, Israel
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Management, Faculty of Management, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Keren Yanuka-Golub
- The Institute of Applied Research, The Galilee Society, Shefa-Amr, Israel
| | - Mahdi Hassanin
- The Institute of Applied Research, The Galilee Society, Shefa-Amr, Israel
| | - Nedal Massalha
- The Institute of Applied Research, The Galilee Society, Shefa-Amr, Israel
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Management, Faculty of Management, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Isam Sabbah
- The Institute of Applied Research, The Galilee Society, Shefa-Amr, Israel
- Prof. Ephraim Katzir Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Braude College of Engineering, Karmiel, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou L, Lai CY, Wu M, Guo J. Simultaneous Biogas Upgrading and Valuable Chemical Production Using Homoacetogens in a Membrane Biofilm Reactor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12509-12519. [PMID: 38963393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Biogas produced from anaerobic digestion usually contains impurities, particularly with a high content of CO2 (15-60%), thus decreasing its caloric value and limiting its application as an energy source. H2-driven biogas upgrading using homoacetogens is a promising approach for upgrading biogas to biomethane and converting CO2 to acetate simultaneously. Herein, we developed a novel membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) with H2 and biogas separately supplied via bubbleless hollow fiber membranes. The gas-permeable hollow fibers of the MBfR enabled high H2 and CO2 utilization efficiencies (∼98% and ∼97%, respectively) and achieved concurrent biomethane (∼94%) and acetate (∼450 mg/L/d) production. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing suggested that enriched microbial communities were dominated by Acetobacterium (38-48% relative abundance). In addition, reverse transcription quantitative PCR of the functional marker gene formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase showed that its expression level increased with increasing H2 and CO2 utilization efficiencies. These results indicate that Acetobacterium plays a key role in CO2 to acetate conversion. These findings are expected to facilitate energy-positive wastewater treatment and contribute to the development of a new solution to biogas upgrading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Zhou
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Chun-Yu Lai
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Mengxiong Wu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Thapa A, Jo H, Han U, Cho SK. Ex-situ biomethanation for CO 2 valorization: State of the art, recent advances, challenges, and future prospective. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108218. [PMID: 37481094 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Ex-situ biomethanation is an emerging technology that facilitates the use of surplus renewable electricity and valorizes carbon dioxide (CO2) for biomethane production by hydrogenotrophic methanogens. This review offers an up-to-date overview of the current state of ex-situ biomethanation and thoroughly analyzes key operational parameters affecting hydrogen (H2) gas-liquid mass transfer and biomethanation performance, along with an in-depth discussion of the technical challenges. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review article to discuss microbial community structure in liquid and biofilm phases and their responses after exposure to H2 starvation during ex-situ biomethanation. In addition, future research in areas such as reactor configuration and optimization of operational parameters for improving the H2 mass transfer rate, inhibiting opportunistic homoacetogens, integration of membrane technology, and use of conductive packing material is recommended to overcome challenges and improve the efficiency of ex-situ biomethanation. Furthermore, this review presents a techno-economic analysis for the future development and facilitation of industrial implementation. The insights presented in this review will offer useful information to identify state-of-the-art research trends and realize the full potential of this emerging technology for CO2 utilization and biomethane production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Thapa
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, IIsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongmok Jo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, IIsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Uijeong Han
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, IIsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Si-Kyung Cho
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, IIsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chatzis A, Orellana E, Gaspari M, Kontogiannopoulos K, Treu L, Zouboulis A, Kougias PG. Comparative study on packing materials for improved biological methanation in trickle Bed reactors. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 385:129456. [PMID: 37406828 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Packing materials improve biological methanation efficiency in Trickle Bed Reactors. The present study, which lies in the field of energy production and biotechnology, entailed the evaluation of commercial pelletized activated carbon and Raschig rings as packing materials. The evaluation focused on monitoring process indicators and examining the composition of the microbial community. Activated carbon resulted in enhanced methane purity, achieving a two-fold higher methane percentage than Raschig rings, maintaining a stable pH level within a range of 7-8 and reducing gas retention time from 6 h to 90 min. Additionally, the digestate derived from biogas plant was found to be a sufficient nutrient source for the process. Fermentative species with genes for β-oxidation, such as Amaricoccus sp. and Caloramator australicus could explain the production of hexanoic and valerate acids during reactor operation. Based on the physical properties of packing materials, the efficiency of biological methanation could be maximized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Chatzis
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; Soil and Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation Dimitra, Thermi-Thessaloniki 57001, Greece
| | - Esteban Orellana
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Gaspari
- Soil and Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation Dimitra, Thermi-Thessaloniki 57001, Greece
| | | | - Laura Treu
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Anastasios Zouboulis
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Panagiotis G Kougias
- Soil and Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation Dimitra, Thermi-Thessaloniki 57001, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Feickert Fenske C, Strübing D, Koch K. Biological methanation in trickle bed reactors - a critical review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129383. [PMID: 37355141 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Biological methanation of H2 and CO2 in trickle bed reactors is a promising energy conversion and storage approach that can support the energy transition towards a renewable-based system. Research in trickle bed reactor design and operation has significantly increased in recent years, but most studies were performed at laboratory scale and conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the trickle bed reactor concept and current developments to support the decision-making process for future projects. In particular, the key design and operational parameters, such as trickling or nutrient provision, are presented, introducing the most recent advances. Furthermore, reactor operation, including the inoculation, long-term and dynamic operation, is described. To better assess the reactor upscaling, several parameters that enable reactor comparison are discussed. On the basis of this review, suitable operational strategies and further research needs were identified that will improve the overall trickle bed reactor performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Feickert Fenske
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Dietmar Strübing
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Konrad Koch
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Feickert Fenske C, Kirzeder F, Strübing D, Koch K. Biogas upgrading in a pilot-scale trickle bed reactor - Long-term biological methanation under real application conditions. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 376:128868. [PMID: 36907226 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The biological methanation of H2 and CO2 in trickle bed reactors is one promising energy conversion technology for energy storage, but experiences at pilot-scale under real application conditions are still rare. Therefore, a trickle bed reactor with a reaction volume of 0.8 m3 was constructed and installed in a wastewater treatment plant to upgrade raw biogas from the local digester. The biogas H2S concentration of about200 ppm was reduced by half, but an artificial sulfur source was required to completely satisfy the sulfur demand of the methanogens. Increasing the ammonium concentration to > 400 mg/L was the most successful pH control strategy, enabling stable long-term biogas upgrading at a CH4 production of 6.1 m3/(m3RV·d) with synthetic natural gas quality (CH4 > 98%). The results of this study with a reactor operation period of nearly 450 days, including two shutdowns, represents an important step towards the necessary full-scale integration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Feickert Fenske
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Franz Kirzeder
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Dietmar Strübing
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Konrad Koch
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dong H, Cheng J, Yue L, Xia R, Chen Z, Zhou J. Perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions as hydrogen carriers to promote the biological conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methane. J CO2 UTIL 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2023.102445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
|
8
|
Jønson BD, Tsapekos P, Tahir Ashraf M, Jeppesen M, Ejbye Schmidt J, Bastidas-Oyanedel JR. Pilot-scale study of biomethanation in biological trickle bed reactors converting impure CO 2 from a Full-scale biogas plant. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 365:128160. [PMID: 36273766 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Research within biological methanation has been a great development using biotrickling filters (BTF), as a power-to-x solution, but research within up scaling is missing. This study investigates the commercial potential of biomethanation in BTF by operating two 1 m3 reactors which was implemented into a full-scale biogas plant. Several areas were investigated, such as enrichment and start-up, long-term steady state operation, serial operation, and intermittent feed. A methane productivity of [Formula: see text] with a product gas of 95.7 % CH4 was obtained for parallel operation, whereas during serial operation a methane productivity of [Formula: see text] at 97.4 % CH4 was achieved. The flexibility of the biomethanation was demonstrated with unintentional loss of H2 feed in periods of 12 to 72 h, where initial performance was regained within 6 to 12 h. The results from this study demonstrate the potential for commercial use of biomethanation in BTF for future Power-to-X solutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Dahl Jønson
- SDU-Biotechnology, Department of Green Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense DK-5230, Denmark; Nature Energy A/S, Odense DK-5220, Denmark
| | - Panagiotis Tsapekos
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Muhammed Tahir Ashraf
- SDU-Biotechnology, Department of Green Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense DK-5230, Denmark.
| | | | - Jens Ejbye Schmidt
- Department of Green Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense DK-5230, Denmark
| | | |
Collapse
|