Biomethane production

Both biomethane production paths complement one another in an ideal way. While the thermo-chemical route focuses on solid biofuels e.g. wood, straw) the bio-chemical route uses wet biomass e.g. animal manure, maize silage). The latter will be realized with plant capacities in the one-digit thermal MW-scale and the former in the two- to three-digit MW-scale. The provided product is basically similar and can be used together with natural gas in any mixture. The erection of the biogas and Bio-SNG conversion plants can be planned directly at the established gas grid. 

Biomethane may play an important role in an integrated strategy to achieve ambitious targets for biofuels within Europe (25 % of total road transport in 2030) and worldwide. European market of the biomethane production is essentially developed in Germany where the first plants were started in 2007 and there were... 

Goyal R, Babu V, Patel GK (2014) Biomethane production. In Babu V, ThapUyal A, Patel, GK (eds) Biofuels production, pp 333-356... 

Ahmad, A., Shah, S. M. U., Othman, M. F., Abdullah, M. A. Aerobic and anaerobic cocultivation of Nannochloropsis oculata with oil palm empty fruit bunch for enhanced biomethane production and palm oil mill effluent treatment. Desalination and Water Treatment 2015, 56(8), 2055-2065. 

Saleh, A. R, Kamarudin, E., Yaacob, A. B., Yussof, A. W, Abdullah, M. A. Optimization of biomethane production by anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent using response satiacevaelhoAology. Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering 2012,1,353-360. 

MoUno, A., Nanna, F., Ding, Y., Bikson, B., Bracdo, G., 2013. Biomethane production by anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Fuel 103, 1003—1009. 

Verslagen Van Landboukundige Onderzoekingen, p 64 Korz DJ (2008) Wet digestion of organic waste and production of biomethane in practice. ECN/ ORBIT Workshop, Niirnberg... 

Akkerman, I., Janssen, M., Rocha, J.M.S., Reith, J.H., and Wijffels, R.H. 2003. Photobiological hydrogen production Photochemical efficiency and bioreactor design. In, Biomethane Bio-hydrogen, (J. H. Reith, R. H. Wijffels, and H. Barten, eds.), Chapter 6, Dutch Biological Hydrogen Foundation, Petten, The Netherlands, pp. 124-145. 

The effect of pressure on biphasic fermentations has been reported for extremely thermophilic organisms (34), supercritical and compressed solvent extractions (35-37), biomethanation of synthesis gases (38), biohydrogenations (39), and bacteria for enhanced oil recovery (40). Fermentation in the presence of compressed and SCF CO2 has been conducted with a goal of using pressurized CO2 as an in situ extraction solvent. Extractive fermentation using compressed solvents could prevent toxicity due to the buildup of a fermentation product—in particular, ethanol—and greatly enhance the yield... 

This so-called producer gas can be used on the one hand as a fuel for the provision of heat through direct combustion or used in engines, turbines or even fuel cells. On the other hand the producer gas can act as a feedstock for the production of liquid and/or gaseous fuels (like Fischer-Tropsch diesel, biomethane, methanol and hydrogen). 

Biogas is a versatile renewable energy source, which can be used for replacement of fossil fuels in power and heat production, and as gaseous vehicle fuel. Methane-rich biogas (biomethane) can also replace natural gas as a feedstock for producing chemicals and materials. 

Kiich K, Augenstein A, Batmale J, Benemann J, Rutledge B, Stilour D (2005) Upgrading dairy biogas to biomethane and other fuels. In Andrews K (ed) Biomethane from dtiiry waste—a sourcebook for the production and use of renewable natural gas in Ctdifomia Clear Concepts, California, pp 47-69... 

After transformation, the final product is referred to as biomethane , typically containing 95-97 % CH4 and 1-3 % CO2. Biomethane can be used as an alternative for natural gas. In general, the type of end use of the biogas sets its quality demands [3]. 

This section will provide a short description of two types of processes that rely on bioconversion based on prokaryotic mixed cultures anaerobic digestion for the production of methane (biomethanation) and mixed culture fermentation for the production of biohydrogen. Hydrogen production by photofermentation is also included in this section since, even if it requires a very specialized microbial consortium, it is performed under mixed non-sterile conditions. 

K. Krich, D. Augestein, J.R Batmale, J. Beneman, B. Rutledge, D. Salour, Biomethane from dairy waste—a sourcebook for the production and use of renewable natural gas in California, 2005. . 

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