Biothermal conversion of biomass and wastes to methane

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5450320

Chynoweth, D P; Srivastava, V J

This paper describes the BIOTHERMGAS process for conversion of biomass and wastes to substitute natural gas (SNG) and/or medium-Btu gas. This process combines biological and thermochemical unit operations into a scheme that can efficiently convert the full spectrum of biomass or waste feedstocks (regardless of moisture and nutrient contents) to methane or other fuel products with minimum process residues. The BIOTHERMGAS process employs biogasification followed by thermochemical gasification of dewatered refractory digester residues. Nitrogen and other inorganic nutrients are recycled from the thermal process effluent to the biogasification unit. The product gas from the thermochemical gasifier can be converted to methane either by catalytic methanation or by biomethanation. The waste heat from thermal product gases is used to supply the heat requirement of the bioconversion component. The preliminary systems analyses were conducted on five applications of the BIOTHERMGAS process: three using biomass (Bermuda grass) and two using municipal wastes as feedstocks. Results indicate that this process is technically superior to either biological or thermochemical processes. The results of preliminary economic analyses and laboratory studies also show this process to be economically and technically feasible.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5450320
• Report Number(s): CONF-830567-6; ON: DE84006052
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ALKANES
BIOTHERMGAS PROCESS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
GRASS
HIGH BTU GAS
HYDROCARBONS
INTERMEDIATE BTU GAS
METHANE
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PRODUCTION
RECYCLING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES