Michigan Biotechnology Institute

Jurgen Thiele

Joseph G Zeikus

An improved process for the biomethanation of an organic substrate includes treating the substrate in a first reactor to form organic acid anions, passing an aqueous preparation containing dissolved organic anions through an ion exchanger so that the organic acid anions are adsorbed and separated from the remainder of the aqueous preparation, desorbing; the organic acid anions and passing the desorbed acids to a second reactor containing methanogenic bacteria which convert the acids to methane. In a preferred embodiment, a bicarbonate solution is produced in the second reactor and it is used to desorb the organic acid anions and regenerate the anion exchanger into the bicarbonate form. A preferred apparatus first and second reactors, and a pair of anion exchangers connected by tubing to both reactors also is disclosed.

Apparatus for biomethanation

An improved process for the biomethanation of an organic substrate includes treating the substrate in a first reactor to form organic acid anions, passing an aqueous preparation containing dissolved organic anions through an anion exchanger so that the organic acid anions are adsorbed and separated from the remainder of the aqueous preparation, desorbing the organic acid anions and passing the desorbed acids to a second reactor containing methanogenic bacteria which convert the acids to methane. In a preferred embodiment, a bicarbonate solution is produced in the second reactor and it is used to desorb the organic acid anions and regenerate the anion exchanger into the bicarbonate form.

Growing community of inventors

East Lansing, MI, United States of America

Jurgen Thiele