# US 8,771,980 B2 · Combined liquid to solid-phase anaerobic digestion for biogas production from municipal and agricultural wastes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,980 B2 - Document ID: US8771980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/396,293 - Filed: 2012-02-14 - Published: 2012-09-13 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-14 - Assignees: The Ohio State University Research Foundation - Applicants: Yebo Li; Jiying Zhu; Caixia Wan - Inventors: Yebo Li; Jiying Zhu; Caixia Wan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771980B2 ## CPC - C12P 5/023: {Methane} - C02F 3/28: Anaerobic digestion processes - C05F 17/40: Treatment of liquids or slurries - C05F 17/50: Treatments combining two or more different biological or biochemical treatments, e.g. anaerobic and aerobic treatment or vermicomposting and aerobic treatment - C10L 3/08: Production of synthetic natural gas - C10L 5/363: {Pellets or granulates} - C10L 5/44: on vegetable substances - 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 23/58: {Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel (combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00)} - C12M 45/02: {by mechanical forces; Stirring; Trituration; Comminuting (crushing, pulverizing, disintegrating in general B02C)} - C12M 45/06: {by chemical means or hydrolysis} - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin - Y02W 30/40: Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse - 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)} - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - C05F: ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS - 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} - 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 - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Biogas is obtained in a solid-state anaerobic digester from a solid organic biomass and a digestion effluent produced in an associated liquid anaerobic digester. The solid organic biomass and digestion effluent are mixed to produce an effluent-biomass mixture. The effluent-biomass mixture is then incubated in the solid state anaerobic digester, producing a biogas and a digestate. The incubation is controlled by adjusting the composition and properties of the effluent-biomass mixture. The solid organic biomass may comprise lignocellulosic biomass, food waste, agricultural waste and the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling the production of biogas from both solid and liquid organic biomass, comprising the steps of: generating an effluent from the liquid organic biomass in a first vessel, operating as a liquid anaerobic digester; combining the effluent with the solid organic biomass, producing an effluent-biomass mixture; incubating, in a second vessel, operating as a solid waste digestion reactor, the effluent-biomass mixture to produce a biogas and a digestate; and controlling, by use of the effluent, the incubating step in the second vessel wherein the first and second vessels are in fluid communication or in series communication with each other by a conduit that connects an outlet of the first vessel to an inlet of the second vessel, the conduit also having an inlet along the conduit to admit the solid organic biomass for the combining step and to deliver the effluent-biomass mixture to the second vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the combining step is performed external to the solid waste digestion reactor vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: treating the solid organic biomass with alkali prior to the combining step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein: the combining step is performed in a mixing chamber, located along the conduit that connects the outlet of the first vessel to an inlet of the second vessel, comprising means for mixing the solid organic biomass with the effluent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: cutting or grinding the solid organic biomass prior to the combining step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein: the cutting or grinding step provides a particulate material having an average size in the range of from about 2 millimeters to about 50 millimeters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the solid organic biomass comprises a lignocellulosic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: treating the solid organic biomass with alkali prior to the combining step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: dewatering the liquid anaerobic digester effluent prior to the combining step. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the incubating step further comprises the substep of: adding a supplemental portion of the liquid anaerobic digester effluent to the effluent-biomass mixture during the incubating step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the adding substep is performed intermittently during the incubating step. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: cutting or grinding the solid organic biomass prior to the combining step. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: the cutting or grinding step provides a particulate material having an average size in the range of from about 2 millimeters to about 50 millimeters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the controlling of the incubating step is achieved by at least one of: adjusting the ratio of the solid organic biomass to the effluent in the combining step; adjusting a solids content of the effluent by dewatering; and adding the effluent directly to the solid waste digestion reactor vessel during the incubating step. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: removing the biogas and digestate from the second vessel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: directing the produced biogas to a combined heat and power unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: none of the digestate is recycled into the effluent-biomass mixture in the second vessel.