MOVING BED BIOFILM REACTOR (MBBR) SYSTEM FOR CONVERSION OF SYNGAS COMPONENTS TO LIQUID PRODUCTS

摘要

A moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) produces liquid products from a gaseous substrate of CO and/or CO₂/H₂ using a biomass that grows on the surface of carrier suspended in a fermentation broth into which the gaseous substrate is at least partially dissolved. The injection devices include gas spargers and preferably a high efficiency gas transfer system such as jet or slot aerator/gas transfer devices. The gas injection device creates eddy currents in the surrounding liquid for thoroughly mixing the fermentation broth in a fermentation vessel. Gas bubbles from the gas delivery device rise through the liquid surface and provide additional mixing and gas dissolution. The motion of gas and liquid keeps the biomass carrier moving can also provide sufficient shear so as to maintain the biofilm thickness on the biomass carrier media in the desirable range. The result of combining a MBBR system for gaseous components of CO and/or CO₂/H₂ with a highly efficient gas transfer system results in an economical and high product volumetric production rate system for producing liquid fuels such as ethanol.