# US 8,465,876 B2 · Systems for the utilization of ruminant animal methane emissions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,876 B2 - Document ID: US8465876B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/452,772 - Filed: 2012-04-20 - Published: 2012-09-06 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-15 - Assignees: Newlight Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Markus Herrema; Kenton Kimmel - Inventors: Markus Herrema; Kenton Kimmel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465876B2 ## CPC - B01J 12/00: Chemical processes in general for reacting gaseous media with gaseous media; Apparatus specially adapted therefor (B01J3/08, B01J8/00, B01J19/08 take precedence) - A61K 35/42: Respiratory system, e.g. lungs, bronchi or lung cells - A61K 38/05: Dipeptides - C08G 63/06: derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids - C12M 43/00: {Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus} - C12N 1/30: having five or less carbon atoms - C12P 7/42: Hydroxy-carboxylic acids - C12P 7/62: Carboxylic acid esters - C12P 7/625: Polyesters of hydroxy carboxylic acids - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency - Y10T 137/87571: Multiple inlet with single outlet - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - 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} - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A process for the utilization of the methane produced by enteric fermentation, specifically to a process that utilizes methane produced by ruminant animals through enteric fermentation as a source of carbon and/or energy for the directed production of methane-based goods or processes is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system configured to simultaneously reduce environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and produce energy, comprising: (a) one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure; (b) a first, second, and third gas, wherein said first gas comprises enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from said animals, wherein said second gas comprises enclosure air comprising oxygen, wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in a combination of first and second gases is above 1.7 ppm, and wherein said third gas comprises methane; (c) an energy-generating device that oxidizes methane to produce energy; and (d) a conveyor configured to direct, move, and/or convey said second gas and/or to contact a combination of two or more of said gases with said device; wherein introduction of a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said device results in oxidation of a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby simultaneously reducing environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and producing energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said energy-generating device is selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell, a boiler, an engine, a thermal oxidizer, a combustor, a culture of microorganisms, a turbine, and/or a microturbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said conveyor is configured to adjust the flow rate of said second gas through said enclosure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein said conveyor is configured to reduce the flow rate of said second gas through said enclosure to increase the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane within said enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein said conveyor is configured to increase the flow rate of said second gas through said enclosure to reduce the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane within said enclosure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said second gas further comprises one or more of dust, methane, ammonia, gases, flies, particulate matter, and/or other airborne matter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a consolidation means downstream of said conveyor, wherein said consolidation means consolidates said conveyed first, second, and third gasses into a gaseous mixture that is introduced into said energy-generating device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the energy generated is electricity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the energy generated is heat. ### Claim 10 An energy production system that utilizes enteric-fermentation derived methane emissions comprising: (a) a first, second, and third gas, wherein said first gas comprises enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure, wherein said second gas comprises enclosure air comprising oxygen, wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in a combination of first and second gases is above 1.7 ppm, and wherein said third gas comprises methane; and (b) an energy-generating device that oxidizes methane to produce energy; wherein introduction of a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said device results in oxidation of a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby producing energy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said oxidation of said methane to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide reduces environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions in addition to producing said energy. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the energy generated is electricity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the energy generated is heat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising a conveyor configured to direct, move, or otherwise convey said second gas within said enclosure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein said conveyor can further be used to contact a combination of one or more of said gases with said device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising a consolidation means to consolidate said first, second, and third gasses into said energy-generating device. ### Claim 17 A system configured to simultaneously reduce environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and produce electricity, comprising: (a) a first, second, and third gas, wherein said first gas comprises enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure, wherein said second gas comprises enclosure air comprising oxygen, wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in a combination of first and second gases is above 1.7 ppm, and wherein said third gas comprises methane; (b) an electricity generating turbine that oxidizes methane to produce electricity; and (c) a conveyor configured to direct, move, and/or convey said second gas and/or to contact a combination of two or more of said gases with said electricity generating turbine; and wherein introduction of a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said turbine results in oxidation of a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby simultaneously reducing environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and producing electricity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein said turbine is a microturbine.