US 2009/0215163 A1Published application

Syngas conversion system using asymmetric membrane and anaerobic microorganism

AssigneeCoskata, Inc.

InventorsSHIH-PERNG TSAI, Rathin Datta, Rahul Basu, Seong-Hoon Yoon

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Abstract

A stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components contacts CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a highly porous side of an asymmetric membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with microorganisms contained within bio-pores of the membrane. The membrane side of the membrane utilizes a dense layer to control hydration of the bio-pores with a liquid phase. The gas feed directly contacts the microorganisms in the bio-pores and maximizes their utilization of the syngas. Metabolic products produced by the microorganisms leave the membrane through the side opposite the entering syngas. This system and method establishes a unitary direction across the membrane for the supply of the primary feed source to the microorganisms and the withdrawal of metabolically produced products. The feed and product flow improves productivity and performance of the microorganism and the membrane.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A bioreactor system for converting a feed gas containing at least one of CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 to a liquid product under anaerobic conditions and delivering the liquid product to a product containing liquid, said system comprising:

a) an asymmetric hydrophilic membrane having a gas contacting side in contact with the feed gas, a liquid contacting side in contact with the product containing liquid, a bio-layer defining a plurality of bio-pores having effective diameters of at least 1 μm over at least a portion of the pore length for retaining microorganisms therein, a porous surface on the bio-layer defining the gas contacting side and presents open ends of the bio-pores to the feed gas, and a hydration layer that controls the flow of product containing liquid from bio-layer and defines the liquid contact side of the membrane, wherein the asymmetric membrane is arranged to transport the feed gas and the liquid products in co-directional flow from the gas contacting side to the liquid contacting side;
b) a feed gas supply conduit for supplying feed gas;
c) a feed gas chamber in fluid communication with the gas supply conduit and the gas contacting side of the membrane for supplying feed gas to microorganisms retained in said bio-pores;
d) a liquid circulation chamber in fluid communication with the liquid contacting side of the membrane for supplying water and nutrients to the microorganisms;
and,
e) a liquid recovering conduit for transferring liquid products from the bioreactor system.

3 more elements

A bioreactor system for converting a synthesis gas to a liquid product comprising:

a) a gas supply conduit for delivering synthesis gas;
b) a gas distribution chamber in fluid communication with the gas supply conduit;
c) a liquid supply conduit for supplying fermentation liquid having a redox potential of less than −200 mV;
d) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed in the gas distribution chamber and having first lumen ends in fluid communication with the liquid supply conduit and outer surfaces in fluid communication with the gas distribution chamber, the hollow fibers comprising asymmetric membranes having an outer polymer layer defining pores with effective diameters in a range of from 1 μm to 100 μm for the retaining microorganisms therein that produce liquid products from the synthesis gas and having an inner skin for permeating fermentation liquid to polymer layer and permeating liquid products from the polymer layer to the fermentation liquid;
e) a liquid recovery conduit in fluid communication with the second lumen ends of the hollow fiber membranes to recover fermentation liquid containing liquid product.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.