< Back to previous page

Project

Biogas-MAMBO: Enhanced biogas valorization by membrane, adsorption and microbial technologies (BIOGAS MAMBO)

Anaerobic digestion transforms organic waste streams into biogas, mainly used in combined heat and power production. Purification of biogas into biomethane can open a range of more efficient applications, both from economic as ecological point of view, including gas grid injection and animal feed production. It is critical for such biogas upgrading to be simple and cheap to render sustainable waste conversion to biogas economically viable. KU Leuven recently developed a new membrane consisting of a quasi-inert material with recordhigh CH4/CO2 selectivity. In contrast to current industrial setups, such membranes have the potential for single-stage upgrading of even heavily loaded biogas to sufficiently clean biomethane. To make these membranes practically applicable, fluxes still need to be increased substantially and membrane (module) preparation facilitated. To reach the required biomethane specs for the different end-uses in a cheap and robust way, hybrid processes will be considered involving adsorption (VUB). One of the most promising added-value uses of biomethane is the production of microbial protein for animal feed via methanotrophic bacteria. This leads to higher economic impact and contributes to making protein supply for agriculture more sustainable. The integration of the treated biogas leaving the membrane/adsorption process and the methanotrophic culture in the bioreactor will be investigated and steered to control the yields and amino acid profile of the animal feed (Ugent). The loop will be closed by coupling biogas upgrading and protein production directly to fish culturing (Inagro). Finally, a techno-economic feasibility study will supplement the technical developments, and define the most ecological and economical routes. Critical input will also be provided from pilot-scale tests in which sufficient amounts of treated biogas will be converted to feed full-scale fish cultures.
 

Date:1 Oct 2020 →  Today
Keywords:Anaerobic digestion, biogas, biomethane, animal feed production, membrane technology, Adsorption
Disciplines:Membrane technologies, Separation technologies