IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v202y2017icp238-247.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Biological methanation of CO2 in a novel biofilm plug-flow reactor: A high rate and low parasitic energy process

Author

Listed:
  • Savvas, Savvas
  • Donnelly, Joanne
  • Patterson, Tim
  • Chong, Zyh S.
  • Esteves, Sandra R.

Abstract

The performance of a novel biofilm plug flow reactor containing a mixed anaerobic microbial culture was investigated for the conversion of CO2/H2 to CH4. Unlike conventional gas-liquid contactors that depend on agitation, gas diffusion was decoupled from power consumption for mixing by increasing the gas phase inside the reaction space whilst increasing the gas residence time. The mixed mesophilic culture exhibited good biofilm formation and metabolic activity. Within 82days of operation, 99% and 90% CH4 conversion efficiencies were achieved at total gas throughputs of 100 and 150v/v/d, respectively. At a gas input rate of 230v/v/d, methane evolution rates reached 40v/v/d, which are the highest to date achieved by fixed film biomethanation systems. Significant gas transfer related parasitic energy savings can be achieved when using the novel plug flow design as compared to a CSTR. The results and modelling parameters of the study can aid the development of high rate, low parasitic energy biological methanation technologies for biogas upgrading and renewable power conversion and storage systems. The study has also established a reactor system which has the potential of accelerating biotechnology developments and deployment of other novel C1 gas routes to low carbon products.

Suggested Citation

  • Savvas, Savvas & Donnelly, Joanne & Patterson, Tim & Chong, Zyh S. & Esteves, Sandra R., 2017. "Biological methanation of CO2 in a novel biofilm plug-flow reactor: A high rate and low parasitic energy process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 238-247.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:202:y:2017:i:c:p:238-247
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.134
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917306748
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.134?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guandalini, Giulio & Campanari, Stefano & Romano, Matteo C., 2015. "Power-to-gas plants and gas turbines for improved wind energy dispatchability: Energy and economic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 117-130.
    2. Zhang, Xiaojin & Bauer, Christian & Mutel, Christopher L. & Volkart, Kathrin, 2017. "Life Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Gas: Approaches, system variations and their environmental implications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 326-338.
    3. Götz, Manuel & Lefebvre, Jonathan & Mörs, Friedemann & McDaniel Koch, Amy & Graf, Frank & Bajohr, Siegfried & Reimert, Rainer & Kolb, Thomas, 2016. "Renewable Power-to-Gas: A technological and economic review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1371-1390.
    4. Rachbauer, Lydia & Voitl, Gregor & Bochmann, Günther & Fuchs, Werner, 2016. "Biological biogas upgrading capacity of a hydrogenotrophic community in a trickle-bed reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 483-490.
    5. Seifert, A.H. & Rittmann, S. & Herwig, C., 2014. "Analysis of process related factors to increase volumetric productivity and quality of biomethane with Methanothermobacter marburgensis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 155-162.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Muhamed Rasit Atelge & Halil Senol & Mohammed Djaafri & Tulin Avci Hansu & David Krisa & Abdulaziz Atabani & Cigdem Eskicioglu & Hamdi Muratçobanoğlu & Sebahattin Unalan & Slimane Kalloum & Nuri Azbar, 2021. "A Critical Overview of the State-of-the-Art Methods for Biogas Purification and Utilization Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-39, October.
    2. Strübing, Dietmar & Moeller, Andreas B. & Mößnang, Bettina & Lebuhn, Michael & Drewes, Jörg E. & Koch, Konrad, 2018. "Anaerobic thermophilic trickle bed reactor as a promising technology for flexible and demand-oriented H2/CO2 biomethanation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 543-554.
    3. Zheng, Lei & Cheng, Shikun & Han, Yanzhao & Wang, Min & Xiang, Yue & Guo, Jiali & Cai, Di & Mang, Heinz-Peter & Dong, Taili & Li, Zifu & Yan, Zhengxu & Men, Yu, 2020. "Bio-natural gas industry in China: Current status and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    4. Fagbohungbe, Michael O. & Komolafe, Abiodun O. & Okere, Uchechukwu V., 2019. "Renewable hydrogen anaerobic fermentation technology: Problems and potentials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Jensen, M.B. & Ottosen, L.D.M. & Kofoed, M.V.W., 2021. "H2 gas-liquid mass transfer: A key element in biological Power-to-Gas methanation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    6. Sposób, Michał, 2024. "Optimization of ex-situ biomethanation process in trickle bed reactor: The impact of slight H2/CO2 ratio adjustments and different packing materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    7. Burkhardt, Marko & Jordan, Isabel & Heinrich, Sabrina & Behrens, Johannes & Ziesche, André & Busch, Günter, 2019. "Long term and demand-oriented biocatalytic synthesis of highly concentrated methane in a trickle bed reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 818-826.
    8. Andreides, Dominik & Stransky, Dominik & Bartackova, Jana & Pokorna, Dana & Zabranska, Jana, 2022. "Syngas biomethanation in countercurrent flow trickle-bed reactor operated under different temperature conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 1329-1335.
    9. Inkeri, Eero & Tynjälä, Tero & Laari, Arto & Hyppänen, Timo, 2018. "Dynamic one-dimensional model for biological methanation in a stirred tank reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 95-107.
    10. Susanne Theuerl & Christiane Herrmann & Monika Heiermann & Philipp Grundmann & Niels Landwehr & Ulrich Kreidenweis & Annette Prochnow, 2019. "The Future Agricultural Biogas Plant in Germany: A Vision," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-32, January.
    11. Derick Lima & Gregory Appleby & Li Li, 2023. "A Scoping Review of Options for Increasing Biogas Production from Sewage Sludge: Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Energy Self-Sufficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-34, March.
    12. Martin Thema & Tobias Weidlich & Manuel Hörl & Annett Bellack & Friedemann Mörs & Florian Hackl & Matthias Kohlmayer & Jasmin Gleich & Carsten Stabenau & Thomas Trabold & Michael Neubert & Felix Ortlo, 2019. "Biological CO 2 -Methanation: An Approach to Standardization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-32, May.
    13. Raquel Iglesias & Raúl Muñoz & María Polanco & Israel Díaz & Ana Susmozas & Antonio D. Moreno & María Guirado & Nely Carreras & Mercedes Ballesteros, 2021. "Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion as an Energy Vector: Current Upgrading Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-30, May.
    14. Díaz, Israel & Fdz-Polanco, Fernando & Mutsvene, Boldwin & Fdz-Polanco, María, 2020. "Effect of operating pressure on direct biomethane production from carbon dioxide and exogenous hydrogen in the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    15. Ruggero Bellini & Ilaria Bassani & Arianna Vizzarro & Annalisa Abdel Azim & Nicolò Santi Vasile & Candido Fabrizio Pirri & Francesca Verga & Barbara Menin, 2022. "Biological Aspects, Advancements and Techno-Economical Evaluation of Biological Methanation for the Recycling and Valorization of CO 2," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-34, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Strübing, Dietmar & Moeller, Andreas B. & Mößnang, Bettina & Lebuhn, Michael & Drewes, Jörg E. & Koch, Konrad, 2018. "Anaerobic thermophilic trickle bed reactor as a promising technology for flexible and demand-oriented H2/CO2 biomethanation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 543-554.
    2. Inkeri, Eero & Tynjälä, Tero & Laari, Arto & Hyppänen, Timo, 2018. "Dynamic one-dimensional model for biological methanation in a stirred tank reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 95-107.
    3. Yun, Yeo-Myeong & Sung, Shihwu & Kang, Seoktae & Kim, Mi-Sun & Kim, Dong-Hoon, 2017. "Enrichment of hydrogenotrophic methanogens by means of gas recycle and its application in biogas upgrading," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 294-302.
    4. McDonagh, Shane & Deane, Paul & Rajendran, Karthik & Murphy, Jerry D., 2019. "Are electrofuels a sustainable transport fuel? Analysis of the effect of controls on carbon, curtailment, and cost of hydrogen," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 716-730.
    5. Eveloy, Valerie, 2019. "Hybridization of solid oxide electrolysis-based power-to-methane with oxyfuel combustion and carbon dioxide utilization for energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 550-571.
    6. Wang, Ligang & Pérez-Fortes, Mar & Madi, Hossein & Diethelm, Stefan & herle, Jan Van & Maréchal, François, 2018. "Optimal design of solid-oxide electrolyzer based power-to-methane systems: A comprehensive comparison between steam electrolysis and co-electrolysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 1060-1079.
    7. Szoplik, Jolanta & Stelmasińska, Paulina, 2019. "Analysis of gas network storage capacity for alternative fuels in Poland," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 343-353.
    8. Rittmann, Simon K.-M.R. & Seifert, Arne H. & Bernacchi, Sébastien, 2018. "Kinetics, multivariate statistical modelling, and physiology of CO2-based biological methane production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 751-760.
    9. Martin Thema & Tobias Weidlich & Manuel Hörl & Annett Bellack & Friedemann Mörs & Florian Hackl & Matthias Kohlmayer & Jasmin Gleich & Carsten Stabenau & Thomas Trabold & Michael Neubert & Felix Ortlo, 2019. "Biological CO 2 -Methanation: An Approach to Standardization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-32, May.
    10. Andreas Lemmer & Timo Ullrich, 2018. "Effect of Different Operating Temperatures on the Biological Hydrogen Methanation in Trickle Bed Reactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-11, May.
    11. Ju, Liwei & Zhao, Rui & Tan, Qinliang & Lu, Yan & Tan, Qingkun & Wang, Wei, 2019. "A multi-objective robust scheduling model and solution algorithm for a novel virtual power plant connected with power-to-gas and gas storage tank considering uncertainty and demand response," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1336-1355.
    12. Jensen, M.B. & Ottosen, L.D.M. & Kofoed, M.V.W., 2021. "H2 gas-liquid mass transfer: A key element in biological Power-to-Gas methanation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    13. Burkhardt, Marko & Jordan, Isabel & Heinrich, Sabrina & Behrens, Johannes & Ziesche, André & Busch, Günter, 2019. "Long term and demand-oriented biocatalytic synthesis of highly concentrated methane in a trickle bed reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 818-826.
    14. McDonagh, Shane & O'Shea, Richard & Wall, David M. & Deane, J.P. & Murphy, Jerry D., 2018. "Modelling of a power-to-gas system to predict the levelised cost of energy of an advanced renewable gaseous transport fuel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 444-456.
    15. Farrokhifar, Meisam & Nie, Yinghui & Pozo, David, 2020. "Energy systems planning: A survey on models for integrated power and natural gas networks coordination," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    16. Laslett, Dean & Carter, Craig & Creagh, Chris & Jennings, Philip, 2017. "A large-scale renewable electricity supply system by 2030: Solar, wind, energy efficiency, storage and inertia for the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) in Western Australia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 713-731.
    17. Lewandowska-Bernat, Anna & Desideri, Umberto, 2018. "Opportunities of power-to-gas technology in different energy systems architectures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 57-67.
    18. Zheng, Lei & Cheng, Shikun & Han, Yanzhao & Wang, Min & Xiang, Yue & Guo, Jiali & Cai, Di & Mang, Heinz-Peter & Dong, Taili & Li, Zifu & Yan, Zhengxu & Men, Yu, 2020. "Bio-natural gas industry in China: Current status and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    19. Kouchachvili, Lia & Entchev, Evgueniy, 2018. "Power to gas and H2/NG blend in SMART energy networks concept," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 456-464.
    20. Bellocchi, Sara & De Falco, Marcello & Gambini, Marco & Manno, Michele & Stilo, Tommaso & Vellini, Michela, 2019. "Opportunities for power-to-Gas and Power-to-liquid in CO2-reduced energy scenarios: The Italian case," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 847-861.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:202:y:2017:i:c:p:238-247. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.