Single-Step Purification of Raw Biogas to Biomethane Quality by Hollow Fiber Membranes without Any Pretreatment - a Radical Innovation in Biogas Upgrading.

0498647 - ÚCHP 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Žák, Michal - Bendová, H. - Friess, K. - Bara, J. E. - Izák, Pavel
Single-Step Purification of Raw Biogas to Biomethane Quality by Hollow Fiber Membranes without Any Pretreatment - a Radical Innovation in Biogas Upgrading.
Separation and Purification Technology. Roč. 203, SEP 12 (2018), s. 36-40. ISSN 1383-5866. E-ISSN 1873-3794
R&D Projects: GA TA ČR TE01020080
Institutional support: RVO:67985858
Keywords : biogas purification * biomethane * hollow fiber membranes
OECD category: Chemical process engineering
Impact factor: 5.107, year: 2018

Herein, a radical innovation in biogas production is presented using a single-step membrane purification technology without any necessary pretreatment steps for contaminant removal and with the usage of low feed pressure. Asymmetric hollow fiber membranes with a thin, selective, non-porous layer made from polyester carbonate on the bore side were successfully used in a single-step raw biogas upgrading process at biogas plant Choťovice in the Czech Republic. A double-stage arrangement operated at 17 °C exhibited the best CO2/CH4 separation factor with 96 vol.% CH4 purity. This single-step biogas upgrading technology with highly H2S and water-resistant membrane modules allows reductions in capital expenditures of ~20% and in operational expenditures of ~50% compared to highpressure water scrubbing (HPWS) and ~70% compared to pressure swing adsorption (PSA). Due to the small energy consumption required merely for biogas compression, our units consumed around only ~2 MJ/Nm3 CH4. Thus, our approach with significantly improved performance and robustness of the membrane separation process can be seen as a major breakthrough of membrane gas separation for inexpensive biogas production.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0290946