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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.
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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.
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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]
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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: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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.
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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
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