Problems of Hydrogen Doping in the Methane Fermentation Process and of Energetic Use of the Gas Mixture

Abstract

This article discusses the technology for doping hydrogen into the fermenter to increase methane production and the amount of energy in the mixture. Hydrogen doping is anticipated to enable more carbon to be applied to produce methane. Hydrogen is proposed to be produced by using excess electricity from, for example, off-peak electricity hours at night. The possibilities of using a mixture of hydrogen and biogas for combustion in boilers and internal combustion engines have been determined. It has been proven that the volumetric addition of hydrogen reduces the heat of combustion of the mixture. Problems arising from hydrogen doping during the methane fermentation process have been identified.

Biological Hydrogen Methanation with Carbon Dioxide Utilization: Methanation Acting as Mediator in the Hydrogen Economy

“…However, there is an urgent need for testing units with larger scale and specific equipment capable of handling biogas and hydrogen mixtures and analyzing energy demand. Herkowiak et al [135] tested a hybrid pumping system for introducing hydrogen, which can operate as a gas dispersion unit and provide mixing, generating small bubbles when needed with low energy demand. More experimental work regarding large-scale reactors is needed to verify the real benefits of hydrogen injection and the energy demand of the auxiliary equipment associated with this strategy.…”

Biohydrogen production through dark fermentation from waste biomass: Current status and future perspectives on biorefinery development

“…Microbial intermediate products are produced during metabolic activities apart from acetic acid and butyric acids such as ethanol, fumaric, lactic, propionic acids, and polyhydroxy butyrate. The overall set of reactions involved in the DF reaction can be represented as given below in the Equations (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) for glucose glycolysis pathway [12,26]. 4)…”

“…Hydrogen is the cleanest fuel available on earth, with no environmental harm. It possesses the highest energy content (~120-145 MJ/kg) [1] and can be produced through different routes (Fig. 1).…”

Special Issue “Biogas as Renewable Energy Source”

“…The prediction of biomethane potential was based on the theoretical stoichiometry of biomethanation reactions, using the R-based package "Process Biogas Data and Predict Biogas Production". The last publication discusses the technology for doping hydrogen into the fermenter to increase methane production and the amount of energy in the mixture [5]. Hydrogen doping was anticipated to enable more carbon to be used to produce methane.…”