# US 2010/0167369 A1 · Biomass As A Sustainable Energy Source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167369 A1 - Document ID: US20100167369A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/515,475 - Filed: 2007-11-20 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-21 - Inventors: Marco J. Castaldi; Kartik Chandran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167369A1 ## CPC - C10L 3/08: Production of synthetic natural gas - C01B 3/386: Catalytic partial combustion - C01B 3/48: followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide - C01B 2203/0261: containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO] - C01B 2203/06: Integration with other chemical processes - C01B 2203/066: with fuel cells - C01B 2203/1023: Catalysts in the form of a monolith or honeycomb - C01B 2203/1058: Nickel catalysts - C01B 2203/1064: Platinum group metal catalysts - C01B 2203/84: Energy production - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Methods and systems for increasing the generation of methane from a biomass are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes the following: decomposing a biomass to produce an gaseous effluent including methane; decomposing a portion of the gaseous effluent in the presence of catalysts to form a decomposed stream including hydrogen, carbon monoxide; converting substantially all of the carbon monoxide in the decomposed stream to carbon dioxide to produce a feed stream including hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and mixing the feed stream with the biomass to facilitate decomposition of the biomass. In some embodiments, the system includes a bioreactor for generating methane from a biomass and additional devices for producing a feed stream including hydrogen and carbon dioxide that is recirculated to the bioreactor to accelerate the production of methane. The additional devices include a catalytic reforming reactor and a shift reactor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of accelerating the production of methane from a biomass, the method comprising: decomposing a biomass to produce an gaseous effluent including methane; decomposing a portion of the gaseous effluent in the presence of catalysts to form a decomposed stream including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide; converting substantially all of the carbon monoxide in the decomposed stream to carbon dioxide to produce a feed stream including hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and mixing the feed stream with the biomass to facilitate decomposition of the biomass. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the biomass is a sanitary wastewater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing liquid from the biomass while it is decomposing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising mixing air with the gaseous effluent while it is decomposing in the presence of catalysts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the decomposed stream has an equivalence ratio of 3.0. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising mixing water with the decomposed stream to facilitate production of the feed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a consumable energy with a portion of the gaseous effluent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising decomposing the biomass for about 8 to 12 hours. ### Claim 9 A method of accelerating the generation of a consumable energy from a biomass, the method comprising: decomposing a biomass to produce an gaseous effluent including methane; decomposing a portion of the gaseous effluent in the presence of catalysts to form a decomposed stream including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide; converting substantially all of the carbon monoxide in the decomposed stream to carbon dioxide to produce a feed stream including hydrogen and carbon dioxide; mixing the feed stream with the biomass to facilitate decomposition of the biomass; feeding a portion of the gaseous effluent to a power plant; and generating a consumable energy with a portion of the gaseous effluent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising removing liquid from the biomass while it is decomposing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising mixing air with the gaseous effluent while it is decomposing in the presence of catalysts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising mixing water with the decomposed stream to facilitate production of the feed. ### Claim 13 A system for accelerating the generation of methane from a biomass, the system comprising: a bioreactor for decomposing a biomass to produce a gaseous effluent including methane; a catalytic reforming reactor for decomposing a portion of the gaseous effluent in the presence of catalysts to form a decomposed stream including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide; a shift reactor for converting substantially all of the carbon monoxide in the decomposed stream to carbon dioxide to produce a feed stream including hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and a conduit from the shift reactor to the bioreactor for directing the feed stream to the bioreactor to facilitate decomposition of the biomass. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13, wherein the biomass is a sanitary wastewater. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13, further comprising a means for generating a consumable energy. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, wherein the means for generating a consumable energy includes a methane-powered generator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, wherein the means for generating a consumable energy includes a fuel cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, further comprising a water source for the shift reactor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, further comprising an air source for the catalytic reforming reactor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, further comprising a conduit from the catalytic reforming reactor to the fuel cell for providing hydrogen to the fuel cell.