US 12,460,164 B2
Process for producing a methane-enriched gas
Matthias Scholz, Pettendorf (DE)
Assigned to HITACHI ZOSEN INOVA SCHMACK GMBH, Schwandorf (DE)
Appl. No. 17/995,970
Filed by HITACHI ZOSEN INOVA SCHMACK GMBH, Schwandorf (DE)
PCT Filed Apr. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/060641
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 11, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/053184, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 17, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20195201 (EP), filed on Sep. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193176 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. C12M 1/107 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/36 (2006.01); C12P 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 21/04 (2013.01) [C12M 29/00 (2013.01); C12M 41/48 (2013.01); C12P 5/023 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for the production of a methane-enriched gas, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a bioreactor having:
at least one device for supplying a gas,
at least one outlet for removing the methane-enriched gas generated in the bioreactor,
b) providing a device for determining the proportion of carbon dioxide in the methane-enriched gas removed from the bioreactor,
c) specifying a target value S for the proportion of carbon dioxide in the methane-enriched gas removed from the bioreactor,
d) supplying carbon dioxide-containing gas to the bioreactor,
e) supplying hydrogen-containing gas to the bioreactor,
f) forming methane-enriched gas in the bioreactor,
g) removing the methane-enriched gas formed in the bioreactor from the bioreactor,
h) determining an actual value for the proportion of carbon dioxide in the methane-enriched gas removed from the bioreactor,
i) comparing the target value S specified in step c) with the actual value determined in step h),
j) regulating the quantity of carbon dioxide-containing gas supplied in step d) and/or regulating the quantity of hydrogen-containing gas supplied in step e) in a manner such that the actual value determined in step h) corresponds to the target value S specified in step c),
wherein the target value S specified in step c) for the proportion of carbon dioxide in the methane-enriched gas removed from the bioreactor satisfies the condition 0 vol %<S≤5 vol %.