Biothermal conversion of biomass to methane and alcohols

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5599755

Chynoweth, D P; Srivastava, V J; Jerger, D E; Tarman, P B

Current studies at IGT are evaluating combinations of biological and thermal processes that can be used to convert all types of biomass to methane or alcohol fuels. One process under development for the production of methane employs anaerobic digestion followed by thermal gasification. High- or low-mositure-content feeds are subjected to anaerobic digestion andthe refractory nonbiodegradable residues are dewatered and thermally gasified. Nutrients produced in the thermal gasification step are recycled to enhance the bioconversion step. The bioconversion step is also used to clean and upgrade the thermally-produced synthesis gas by biomethanation. In addition, the synthesis gas provides a means for heating, mixing, and stimulation of methanogenesis in the bioconversion step. The process is cost-competitive and has a thrmal efficiency superior to other processes. Another process under study combines fermentation with thermal conversion for production of separate streams of ethanol and methanol. This process employs fermentation for production of ethanol, and thermal conversion of fermentation residues for production of synthesis gas and methanol. Thermal process heat and a portion of the synthesis gas are used to supply the energy required for feed pretreatment, fermentation, and alcohol purification. The output of alcohol (ethanol plus methanol) is approximately double that obtained by conventional fermentation processes.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5599755
• Report Number(s): CONF-820217-4; ON: DE82902695
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
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090222 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALCOHOLS
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
CEREALS
DIGESTION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FLUIDS
GASES
GASIFICATION
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEAT
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAIZE
MANAGEMENT
METHANOL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYNTHESIS GAS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WATER REMOVAL
YIELDS