# US 2014/0154754 A1 · Systems and methods for anaerobic digestion and collection of products

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- Number: US 2014/0154754 A1
- Document ID: US20140154754A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/009,308
- Filed: 2009-10-21
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-21
- Assignees: Blue Marble Energy Corporation
- Inventors: James Stephens
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154754A1

## CPC

- C12M 21/04: {for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10)}
- C12M 21/12: {for producing fuels or solvents (C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00)}
- C12M 23/58: {Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel (combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00)}
- C12M 43/06: {Photobioreactors combined with devices or plants for gas production different from a bioreactor of fermenter}
- C12M 43/08: {Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity}
- C12P 3/00: Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide {(recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02)}
- C12P 5/023: {Methane}
- C12P 7/40: containing a carboxyl group {including Peroxycarboxylic acids}
- C12P 7/6409: Fatty acids
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein a majority of the first plurality of anaerobic bacteria is acidogenic bacteria, and wherein a majority of the second plurality of anaerobic bacteria is acetogenic bacteria.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein a majority of the first plurality of anaerobic bacteria is acidogenic bacteria, and wherein a majority of the second plurality of anaerobic bacteria is methanogenic bacteria.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein without the removal of volatile fatty acids, the pH is not maintained 5.9 and 8.5.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pluralities of anaerobic bacteria each comprise aquatic anaerobic bacteria and ruminant anaerobic bacteria.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bioreactor system of claim 5, wherein a majority of the first plurality of anaerobic bacteria is ruminant anaerobic bacteria, and wherein a majority of the second plurality of anaerobic bacteria is aquatic anaerobic bacteria.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The bioreactor system of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of anaerobic bacteria comprises the ruminant anaerobic bacteria in a volume:volume ratio of about 100:1 to 1500:1 of the aquatic anaerobic bacteria, and wherein the second plurality of anaerobic bacteria comprises the aquatic anaerobic bacteria in a volume:volume ratio of about 100:1 to 1500:1 of the ruminant anaerobic bacteria.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the system is a batch system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the system is a continuous system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises an input configured to receive a feedstock, wherein the feedstock comprises solid cellulosic biomass.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises an output configured to collect volatile fatty acids from the bioreactor system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises an output configured to collect ammonia from the bioreactor system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises an output configured to collect methane from the bioreactor system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 5)

The bioreactor system of claim 5, wherein the ruminant anaerobic bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the following: Fibrobacter succinogenes, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Ruminococcus albus, Clostridium locheadii, Bacteroides ruminicola, Ruminobacter amylophilus, Selenomonas ruminantium, Succinomonas amylolytica, Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas lactilytica, Megasphaera elsdenii, Schwartzia sunniovorans, Lachnospira mulitparus, Neocalimastix, and a combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 5)

The bioreactor system of claim 5, wherein the aquatic anaerobic bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the following: Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, Methanomicrobium mobile, Syntrophomonas wolfei, and a combination thereof.

### Claim 16

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.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The bioreactor system of claim 16, wherein the first plurality of anaerobic microbes comprises ruminant anaerobic bacteria.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The bioreactor system of claim 16, wherein the second plurality of anaerobic microbes comprises aquatic anaerobic bacteria.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The bioreactor system of claim 16, wherein the first plurality of anaerobic microbes comprises the ruminant anaerobic bacteria in a volume:volume ratio of about 100:1 to 1500:1 of the aquatic anaerobic bacteria, and wherein the second plurality of anaerobic microbes comprises the aquatic anaerobic bacteria in a volume:volume ratio of about 100:1 to 1500:1 of the ruminant anaerobic bacteria.

### Claim 20

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.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The bioreactor of claim 20, wherein the bioreactor comprises at least two modules.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The bioreactor of claim 21, wherein the bioreactor is a continuous system.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The bioreactor of claim 20, wherein the first plurality of bacteria is present in a volume:volume ratio of about 1:1 to the second plurality of bacteria.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The bioreactor of claim 20, wherein the first plurality of bacteria is present in a volume:volume ratio of about 1:100 to 1:1500 to the second plurality of bacteria in a first module of the two modules and the second plurality of bacteria is present in a volume:volume ratio of about 1:100 to 1:1500 to the first plurality of bacteria in a second module of the two modules.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The bioreactor of claim 20, wherein the bioreactor comprises an input for cellulose-containing feedstock and at least one output, wherein the output of the bioreactor consists of at least one of the following: ammonia, volatile fatty acids, and methane.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The bioreactor of claim 25, wherein the output of the bioreactor provides the methane to a turbine configured to deliver electricity.

### Claim 27

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.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the plurality of anaerobic bacteria comprises:
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.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the plurality of anaerobic bacteria comprises:
a first plurality of bacteria, wherein the first plurality of bacteria comprises acetogenic bacteria; and
a second plurality of bacteria, wherein the second plurality of bacteria comprises acidogenic bacteria,
wherein the acidogenic bacteria and acetogenic bacteria are present in the bioreactor at a ratio such to maintain the pH of the bioreactor between 5.9-8.5.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28, 29)

The method of claim 28 or 29, wherein the first plurality of bacteria is present in a volume:volume ratio of about 1:100 to 1:1500 to the second plurality of bacteria in a first module of the bioreactor and the second plurality of bacteria is present in a volume:volume ratio of about 1:100 to 1:1500 to the first plurality of bacteria in a second module of the bioreactor.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27 further comprising converting the usable products to electricity.

### Claim 32 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27 further comprising converting the usable products to biofuel.

### Claim 33

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.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein the maintaining the pH in the vessel is carried out by removing ammonia when the pH is greater than 8.5, and removing volatile fatty acids when the pH is below 5.9.

### Claim 35

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.