CO2 Removal from Biogas

Component Treatment Plants (vol%) (Organic Waste) (vol%) (vol7o) 

Source From Maltesson, H.A., Biogas for fordonsdrift. KFB, Stocldiolm, 1997 (in Swedish).  

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The pilot is designed to be able to study the removal of CO2 from high pressure gas streams containing methane or nitrogen. Since in the future, CO2 removal from flue gas, biogas and from hydrogen rich gas streams (pre-combustion capture) is anticipated, the pilot can be able to study these processes after relatively small technical modifications. 

Separation of CO2 from gas streams is required in four areas (1) purification of natural gas (gas sweetening), (2) separation of CO2 from enhanced oil recovery (FOR) gas streams, (3) removal of CO2 from flue gas, and (4) removal of CO2 from biogas. A fifth area vital for the space age should be mentioned removal of CO2 from life support systems onboard space ships, and also in submarines. All these applications have different specifications for the purified gas or for the recovered CO2, and future membrane applications will most likely be based on tailor-made materials. 

The exiting stream entered a separation tank where the biogas (CH4 + CO2) was removed from the liquid phase. The biogas then passed a bubble flask for visual observation, and finally a hydrogen sulfide scrubber before being measured in a gasometer. Ahead of the gasometer, samples could be withdrawn for gas analysis. 

Belmabkhout Y, De Weireld G, Sayari A (2009) Amine-bearing mesoporous sihca for CO2 and H2S removal from natural gas and biogas. Langmuir 25 13275-13278... 

Gas separations currently comprise a membrane market of two hundred million euros per year. Most of this business involves a variety of applications, such as separation of H2 from gases like N2, CH4, and CO separation of CO2 or O2 from N2 H2 recovery in oil refinery processes CH4 separation from biogas removal of water vapor CO2 and H2S from natural gas (NG) and removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air of exhaust streams. A much larger potential market lies in the separation of condensable gases, such as C3+ from H2 or CH4, and CsHg from CsHg. 

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