Biomass growth restriction in a packed bed reactor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsWilliam L. Griffith, Alicia L. Compere
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When carrying out continuous biologically catalyzed reactions with anaerobic microorganisms attached to a support in an upflow packed bed column, growth of the microorganisms is restricted to prevent the microorganisms from plugging the column by limiting the availability of an essential nutrient and/or by the presence of predatory protozoa which consume the anaerobic microorganisms. A membrane disruptive detergent may be provided in the column to lyse dead microorganisms to make them available as nutrients for live microorganisms.
Claims14
A process for carrying out a biologically catalyzed reaction comprising the steps of:
- introducing an influent solution containing reactants into the lower section of an upflow packed bed column packed with a support material for microorganisms, said support material having attached thereto anaerobic microorganisms for catalyzing the reaction of said reactants;
- introducing with said influent a membrane disruptive detergent to lyse dead microorganisms from said support and to make available the essential nutrient of said dead microorganisms to the remaining live microoganisms;
- allowing said reactants to react under the influence of said anaerobic microorganisms;
- and
- simultaneously with said steps of introducing and allowing restricting the presence of an essential growth nutrient within said influent solution to cause the population of said anaerobic microorganism to remain substantially constant and to prevent said anaerobic microoganisms from plugging said packed column.
A process for carrying out a biologically catalyzed reaction comprising the steps of:
- introducing an influent solution containing reactants into the lower section of an upflow packed bed column packed with a support material for microorganisms, said support material having attached thereto anaerobic microorganisms for catalyzing the reaction of said reactants, said column containing predatory protozoa which consume anaerobic microorganisms and excrete essential nutrients consumed from said consumed anaerobic microorganisms for use by the remaining live anaerobic microorganisms;
- allowing said reactants to react under the influence of said anaerobic microorganisms;
- and
- simultaneously with said steps of introducing and allowing, restricting the presence of an essential growth nutrient within said influent solution to cause the population of said anaerobic microorganism to remain substantially constant and to prevent said anaerobic microorganisms from plugging said packed column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.