Enhanced carbon-transfer and -utilization efficiencies achieved using membrane carbonation with gas sources having a range of CO2 concentrations

Lai, YenJung Sean; Eustance, Everett; Shesh, Tarun; Rittmann, Bruce E.

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2020.102098

Enhanced carbon-transfer and -utilization efficiencies achieved using membrane carbonation with gas sources having a range of CO₂ concentrations

Journal Article · Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Algal Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2020.102098· OSTI ID:1848486

Lai, YenJung Sean ^[1]; Eustance, Everett ^[2]; Shesh, Tarun ^[2]; Rittmann, Bruce E. ^[2]

Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States). Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology; Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States). Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology

The economic viability of microalgal biofuels relies on increasing productivity in a cost-effective manner. As microalgal biomass contains > 50% carbon, a high rate of CO₂ delivery is required for high productivity, and inefficient CO₂ delivery amplifies operating costs. Membrane carbonation using non-porous hollow fiber membranes can ideally deliver CO₂ without bubble formation and high carbon transfer efficiency. Because CO₂ streams from industrial resources are not 100% CO₂, the buildup of inert gasses can significantly lower the CO₂ delivery rate when the distal end of the membrane is closed. To overcome the buildup of inert gases, we managed the distal end of the membranes with three different approaches: fully open end, restricted bleed valve, and restricted bleed valve with pH-actuated venting. For all approaches, CO₂ was delivered to membranes ondemand based on a pH set point. Evaluating a wide range of CO₂ concentrations (10% to 100%), we found that all approaches eliminated the buildup of inert gases, could maintain target pH values and gave the same biomass productivities and carbon distributions. However, carbon transfer efficiency depended on the operation of the distal end. Fully open-end operation gave a poor carbon transfer efficiency because of excessive loss of CO₂ from the distal end. However, restricting the exit flow rate to ≤4 cm³ /min mitigated the problems of excessive CO₂ loss, but without incurring a large loss of CO₂-delivery flux. For the continuous cultivation, combining a restricted bleed valve with pH-actuated venting improved the carbon-transfer efficiency and -utilization efficiencies up to 85% and 67%, respectively, with a sufficient CO₂ delivery flux.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0007093; EE0008517

OSTI ID:: 1848486

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1780224

Journal Information:: Algal Research, Journal Name: Algal Research Journal Issue: C Vol. 52; ISSN 2211-9264

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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42 ENGINEERING
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bleed valve
Carbon transfer efficiency
Carbon utilization efficiency
Insert gas
Membrane carbonation
Venting valve

Enhanced carbon-transfer and -utilization efficiencies achieved using membrane carbonation with gas sources having a range of CO2 concentrations

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