Systems and methods for anaerobic digestion and collection of products
AssigneeBlue Marble Energy Corporation
InventorJames Stephens
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Abstract
Described herein are methods and systems that can provide independent energy generation as well as systems for the generation of other useful products, such as chemicals. In addition, the systems and methods can provide ways of harnessing the potential of biomass feedstock to generate of multitude of products including green crude, biogas, electricity, heat, fatty acids, biodiesel, ammonia, and chemical products. In many cases, the systems and methods herein utilize anaerobic microorganisms, including aquatic and ruminant organisms, to digest material and create products.
Claims35
A bioreactor system comprising:
- a first module comprising a first plurality of anaerobic bacteria;
- and
- a second module comprising a second plurality of anaerobic bacteria;
- wherein an output of the first module is in communication with an input of the second module, and
- wherein the first plurality of anaerobic bacteria comprises a different mixture of anaerobic bacteria than the second plurality of anaerobic bacteria, and
- wherein the bioreactor system is configured to remove of volatile fatty acids from the first module and is configured to remove ammonia from the second module in order to maintain the pH of the bioreactor system between 5.9 and 8.5.
A bioreactor system for converting cellulose-containing feedstock into products, wherein the system comprises:
- a. a first module comprising an input, more than one output, a first plurality of anaerobic microbes, and the cellulose-containing feedstock, wherein first plurality of anaerobic microbes digest the cellulose-containing feedstock to generate an organic acid product and a partially-digested feedstock;
- b. a first separator in communication with one of the outputs of the first vessel, wherein the first separator obtains the organic acid product;
- c. a second module comprising an input, more than one output, and a second plurality of anaerobic microbes, wherein the input receives the partially-digested feedstock, and wherein the second plurality of anaerobic microbes digest the partially-digested feedstock to generate a methane product and an ammonia product;
- and
- d. a second separator in fluid communication with one of the outputs of the second module, wherein the second separator obtains the ammonia product.
A bioreactor comprising:
- a first plurality of bacteria, wherein the first plurality of bacteria comprises aquatic anaerobic bacteria;
- and
- a second plurality of bacteria, wherein the second plurality of bacteria comprises ruminant anaerobic bacteria.
A method of collecting products from cellulose-containing feedstock comprising:
- delivering the cellulose-containing feedstock to a bioreactor, wherein the bioreactor comprises a plurality of anaerobic bacteria;
- converting the cellulose-containing feedstock to usable products within the bioreactor, wherein the usable products include at least one of the following:
- ammonia, volatile fatty acids, and methane;
- and
- collecting the usable products from the bioreactor, wherein 59% or greater of the cellulose-containing feedstock is converted to the usable products.
A method comprising:
- combining a plurality of aquatic microorganisms with a plurality of microorganisms from a ruminant stomach in a vessel;
- maintaining a pH in the vessel between 5.9-8.5;
- and
- maintaining a pressure in the vessel between 0.5-10 atm.
A method of converting cellulose-containing feedstock into products comprising:
- a. anaerobically digesting or breaking down the cellulose-containing feedstock in a first anaerobic digestion module to produce an organic acid product and a partially-digested feedstock;
- b. separating the organic acid product from the partially-digested feedstock;
- c. transferring the partially-digested feedstock to a second anaerobic digestion module;
- d. anaerobically digesting or breaking down the partially-digested feedstock in the second anaerobic digestion module to produce an ammonia product and a methane product;
- and
- e. removing the ammonia product and the methane product from the second anaerobic digestion module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.