Biomethanation: Anaerobic fermentation of CO2, H2 and CO to methane

✍ Scribed by D. L. Wise; C. L. Cooney; D. C. Augenstein

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 801 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-3592
• DOI: 10.1002/bit.260200804

✦ Synopsis

Studies to examine the microbial fermentation of coal gasification products (COs, H, and CO) to methane have been done with a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria selected from an anaerobic sewage digestor. The specific rate of methane production at 37°C reached 25 mmoVg cell hr. The stoichiometry for methane production was 4 mmol H,imol CO,. Cell recycle was used to increase the cell concentration from 2.5 to 8.3 g/liter: the volumetric rate of methane production ran from 1.3 to 4 literiliter hr. The biogasification was also examined at elevated pressure (450 psi) and temperature to facilitate interfacing with a coal gasifier. At 60"C, the specific rate of methane production reached SO mmol/g cell hr. Carbon monoxide utilization by the mixed culture of anaerobes and by a Rhodopserrdomonrrs species was examined. Both cultures are able to carry out the shift conversion of CO and water to C 0 2 and hydrogen.