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Integration of Membrane Contactors and Bioelectrochemical Systems for CO 2 Conversion to CH 4

Author

Listed:
  • Rubén Rodríguez-Alegre

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Alba Ceballos-Escalera

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Daniele Molognoni

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Pau Bosch-Jimenez

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • David Galí

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Edxon Licon

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Monica Della Pirriera

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Julia Garcia-Montaño

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Eduard Borràs

    (LEITAT Technological Center, C/ de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge produces large amounts of CO 2 which contribute to global CO 2 emissions. Capture and conversion of CO 2 into valuable products is a novel way to reduce CO 2 emissions and valorize it. Membrane contactors can be used for CO 2 capture in liquid media, while bioelectrochemical systems (BES) can valorize dissolved CO 2 converting it to CH 4 , through electromethanogenesis (EMG). At the same time, EMG process, which requires electricity to drive the conversion, can be utilized to store electrical energy (eventually coming from renewables surplus) as methane. The study aims integrating the two technologies at a laboratory scale, using for the first time real wastewater as CO 2 capture medium. Five replicate EMG-BES cells were built and operated individually at 0.7 V. They were fed with both synthetic and real wastewater, saturated with CO 2 by membrane contactors. In a subsequent experimental step, four EMG-BES cells were electrical stacked in series while one was kept as reference. CH 4 production reached 4.6 L CH 4 m −2 d −1 , in line with available literature data, at a specific energy consumption of 16–18 kWh m −3 CH 4 (65% energy efficiency). Organic matter was removed from wastewater at approximately 80% efficiency. CO 2 conversion efficiency was limited (0.3–3.7%), depending on the amount of CO 2 injected in wastewater. Even though achieved performances are not yet competitive with other mature methanation technologies, key knowledge was gained on the integrated operation of membrane contactors and EMG-BES cells, setting the base for upscaling and future implementation of the technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubén Rodríguez-Alegre & Alba Ceballos-Escalera & Daniele Molognoni & Pau Bosch-Jimenez & David Galí & Edxon Licon & Monica Della Pirriera & Julia Garcia-Montaño & Eduard Borràs, 2019. "Integration of Membrane Contactors and Bioelectrochemical Systems for CO 2 Conversion to CH 4," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:361-:d:200324
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bailera, Manuel & Lisbona, Pilar & Romeo, Luis M. & Espatolero, Sergio, 2017. "Power to Gas projects review: Lab, pilot and demo plants for storing renewable energy and CO2," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 292-312.
    2. Raúl Santiago Muñoz-Aguilar & Daniele Molognoni & Pau Bosch-Jimenez & Eduard Borràs & Mónica Della Pirriera & Álvaro Luna, 2018. "Design, Operation, Modeling and Grid Integration of Power-to-Gas Bioelectrochemical Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Bajracharya, Suman & Sharma, Mohita & Mohanakrishna, Gunda & Dominguez Benneton, Xochitl & Strik, David P.B.T.B. & Sarma, Priyangshu M. & Pant, Deepak, 2016. "An overview on emerging bioelectrochemical systems (BESs): Technology for sustainable electricity, waste remediation, resource recovery, chemical production and beyond," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 153-170.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shahparasti, Mahdi & Rajaei, Amirhossein & Tarrassó, Andres & Luna, Alvaro, 2022. "A multi-output AC/DC energy conversion system for grid integration of bioelectrochemical power-to-gas storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    2. Ceballos-Escalera, Alba & Molognoni, Daniele & Bosch-Jimenez, Pau & Shahparasti, Mahdi & Bouchakour, Salim & Luna, Alvaro & Guisasola, Albert & Borràs, Eduard & Della Pirriera, Monica, 2020. "Bioelectrochemical systems for energy storage: A scaled-up power-to-gas approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

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