Process for the separation of landfill gas

Patent · Tue Jul 21 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6269852

O'Brien, J V; Holmes, A S; Hopewell, R B

A recycle process is described for the separation of a landfill feed gas stream, having a high concentration of methane and carbon dioxide and containing undesirable trace gas impurities, into a fuel-or sales-grade gas methane product stream and a liquid carbon dioxide product stream, which process comprises: (a) introducing an essentially hydrogen-free, dried, compressed, landfill feed gas stream into a cryogenic distillation column; (b) withdrawing a methane-enriched overhead product stream from the distillation column; (c) withdrawing an enriched liquid carbon dioxide bottom product stream, containing a major amount of the undesirable impurities, from the distillation column; (d) introducing the methane-enriched overhead product stream into a gas-permeation membrane apparatus; (e) withdrawing from the membrane apparatus a sales- or fuel-grade gas methane product stream; (f) withdrawing from the membrane apparatus a carbon-dioxide-enriched gas permeate stream; (g) compressing the carbon-dioxide-enriched gas permeate stream; and (h) recycling the compressed permeate stream for use in the process.

• Assignee: Koch Process Systems, Inc., Westboro, MA
• Patent Number(s): US 4681612
• OSTI ID: 6269852
• 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
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPRESSED GASES
CRYOGENICS
DISTILLATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
IMPURITIES
MANAGEMENT
MEMBRANES
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
QUANTITY RATIO
RECYCLING
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT