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US 2020/0048596 A1Published application
Membrane biofilm reactors, systems, and methods for producing organic products
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsPrathap Parameswaran, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Sudeep Popat, Bruce Rittmann, Cesar Torres
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed toward membrane biofilm reactors primarily comprising microorganisms that produce chemical fuel products or precursors thereof. Reactors of the present disclosure can primarily comprise acetogens, a methanotrophs, and/or Methanosarcina acetivorans.
Claims20
A membrane biofilm reactor comprising:
- a vessel defining a volume;
- a first plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed within the vessel and each comprising a lumen;
- a first gas feedstock provided through an inlet in fluid communication with the lumens of the first plurality of hollow fiber membranes;
- a second plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed within the vessel and each comprising a lumen;
- and
- a second gas feedstock provided through an inlet in fluid communication with the lumens of the second plurality hollow fiber membranes,
- wherein the first gas feedstock is different from the second gas feedstock;
- and
- wherein a biofilm formed on the outer surface of the hollow fiber membranes.
6 more elements
A membrane biofilm reactor comprising:
- a vessel defining a volume;
- a hollow fiber membrane defining an outer surface and a lumen, the hollow fiber membrane being disposed within the volume containing an aqueous medium;
- and
- a biofilm formed on the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane consisting essentially of thermophilic microorganisms, wherein the temperature of the aqueous medium is 50° C. to 70° C.
1 more element
A method of producing and extracting at least one of an alkane, an organic acid, or an alcohol comprising:
- providing a gas feedstock composition to at least one hollow fiber membrane of a membrane biofilm reactor, the gas feedstock composition alternating between a primary composition and a secondary composition, the membrane biofilm reactor comprising a biofilm disposed on the hollow fiber membrane in an aqueous medium;
- and
- extracting at least one of an alkane, an organic acid, or an alcohol from the aqueous medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.