title: Biocatalytic methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in an anaerobic three-phase system.
abstract: A new type of anaerobic trickle-bed reactor was used for biocatalytic methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide under mesophilic temperatures and ambient pressure in a continuous process. The conversion of gaseous substrates through immobilized hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea in a biofilm is a unique feature of this type of reactor. Due to the formation of a three-phase system on the carrier surface and operation as a plug flow reactor without gas recirculation, a complete reaction could be observed. With a methane concentration higher than c(CH4) = 98%, the product gas exhibits a very high quality. A specific methane production of P(CH4) = 1.49 Nm(3)/(m(3)(SV) d) was achieved at a hydraulic loading rate of LR(H2) = 6.0 Nm(3)/(m(3)(SV) d). The relation between trickle flow through the reactor and productivity could be shown. An application for methane enrichment in combination with biogas facilities as a source of carbon dioxide has also been positively proven.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Science and Process Engineering, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Department of Waste Management, Siemens Halske Ring 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany. Electronic address: Burkhardt@tu-cottbus.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Science and Process Engineering, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Department of Waste Management, Siemens Halske Ring 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koschack
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Science and Process Engineering, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Department of Waste Management, Siemens Halske Ring 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Busch
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D055162:Biocatalysis; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Hydrogen; Methanation; Methane enrichment; Power to gas