Production and upgrading of biogas through controlled hydrogen injection for renewable energy storage

authored by

G. Cuff, K. Nelting, N. Trautmann, E. Mohammad-pajooh

Abstract

To augment renewable energy production and utilize surplus wind energy during low-demand intervals, hydrogen produced through electrolysis may be injected into anaerobic digesters in order to increase the energetic content of biogas through promotion of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis (4H2 + CO2 → CH4 + 2H2O). In this work bubble-free hydrogen injection was investigated in at pilot scale using various membranes. The reactor was then inoculated with anaerobic sludge from a municipal digester which had been pre-adapted to elevated H2 levels; due to selective methanogenesis and simultaneous CO2 removal, gas phase methane concentrations initially increased by a factor of 36% over the theoretical maximum from the anaerobic degradation of glucose during continuous tests. However, a shift in the acid spectrum toward propionate and a deficit in acetate led to intermittent periods during which diminished acetoclastic methanogenesis reduced overall biogas production. Maximum H2 dosing rates were derived for anaerobic digestion of glucose.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management

Type

Article

Journal

Bioresource Technology Reports

Volume

9

Publication date

2020

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering, Waste Management and Disposal, Environmental Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2019.100373 (Access: Unknown)