Membrane supported bioreactor for conversion of syngas components to liquid products

Abstract

Ethanol and other liquid products are produced by contacting syngas components such as CO or a mixture of CO 2 and H 2 with a surface of a membrane and transferring these components in contact with a biofilm on the opposite side of the membrane. These steps provide a stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals. The gas fed on the membrane's gas contact side transports through the membrane to form a biofilm of anaerobic microorganisms that converted the syngas to desired liquid products. The system can sustain production with a variety of microorganisms and membrane configurations.

1 . A bioreactor system for converting a feed gas containing at least one of CO or a mixture of CO 2  and H 2  to a liquid product comprising:
 a) a bio-support membrane having a gas contacting side in contact with the feed gas for transferring said feed gas across the membrane to a biofilm support side for supporting a microorganism that produces a liquid product;   b) a feed gas supply conduit for delivering feed gas to the membrane system;   c) a feed gas chamber in fluid communication with the gas supply conduit and the gas contact side of the membrane for supplying feed gas to said membrane;   d) a liquid retention chamber in fluid communication with the biofilm support side of the membrane for receiving liquid products; and,   e) a liquid recovery conduit in fluid communication with the liquid recovery chamber for recovering a liquid product from the membrane system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bio-support membranes comprises a micro porous membrane and/or a non-porous membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the microorganism produces a liquid product comprising at least one of ethanol, n-butanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feed gas is synthesis gas, the support side of the membrane supports a microorganism that produces ethanol and the liquid recovery conduit recovers an ethanol containing liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid retention chamber contains one or more dissolved gases for contact with the biofilm and the dissolved gases include at least one of CO and CO 2  and H 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the dissolved gas comprises synthesis gas that enters the liquid retention chamber in solution with a liquid stream or as small bubbles. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid support chamber agitates liquid within the chamber to provide shear forces to control the thickness of the biofilm. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feed gas passes serially through multiple bio-support membranes, the system includes at least one feed gas chamber for each bio-support membrane and CO 2  is removed from the feed gas as it passes through the system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the liquid product passes serially through at least one liquid retention chamber for each bio-support membrane, a feed gas is withdrawn from each feed gas chamber, and the feed gas and liquid products pass in co-current flow, countercurrent flow or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bio-support membrane is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bio-support membrane comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membranes and the feed gas chamber includes the collective lumen volume of the fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the liquid chamber includes hollow fibers membranes for removing dissolved CO 2  from the liquid phase. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the microorganism supported by the bio-support membrane comprises a mono-culture or a co-culture of at least one of  Clostridium ragsdalei, Butyribacterium methylotrophicum , and  Clostridium Ljungdahlii.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a continuous flow of feed gas passes across the gas contact side of the bio-support membrane. 
     
     
         15 . A bioreactor system for converting a synthesis gas to a liquid product comprising:
 a) a gas supply conduit for delivering synthesis gas;   b) a distribution chamber in fluid communication with the supply conduit;   c) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a first lumen end in fluid communication with the distribution chamber and outer surface suitable for the supporting a biofilm comprising microorganisms for producing liquid products from the synthesis gas;   d) a liquid retention chamber surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and providing agitation to the outer surface of the hollow fibers to control the thickness of the biofilm;   e) a liquid recovery conduit in fluid communication with the liquid recovery chamber for recovering liquid products.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hollow fiber membranes comprise a micro porous membrane and/or a non-porous membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the microorganism produces a liquid product comprising at least one of ethanol, n-butanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the feed gas is synthesis gas, the support side of the membrane supports a microorganism that produces ethanol and the liquid recovery conduit recovers an ethanol containing liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the liquid retention chamber contains one or more dissolved gases comprising one or more components of the synthesis gas that enter the liquid retention chamber in solution with a liquid stream or as small bubbles. 
     
     
         20 . A bioreactor system for converting a synthesis gas to a liquid product comprising:
 a) a fiber membrane bundle comprising hollow fiber membranes having first and second lumen ends and an outer surface suitable for the supporting a biofilm comprising microorganisms for producing ethanol from the synthesis gas;   b) a gas supply conduit and gas for delivering a continuous stream of synthesis gas;   c) a distribution chamber in fluid communication with the supply conduit and the first lumen ends;   d) a collection chamber in fluid communication with the second lumen end;   e) gas recovery conduit in fluid communication with the collection chamber for continuously withdrawing synthesis gas;   f) a liquid retention chamber surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and providing agitation to the outer surface of the hollow fibers to control the thickness of the biofilm; and,   g) a liquid supply conduit and a liquid recovery conduit in fluid communication with the liquid retention chamber for circulating liquid through the liquid retention chamber and recovering an ethanol containing liquid from the liquid retention chamber.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the feed gas passes serially through multiple bio-support membranes, the system includes at least one distribution chamber and at least one collection chamber for each bio-support membrane, at least one collection chamber transfers synthesis directly to at least one distribution chamber, and CO 2  is removed from the feed gas as it passes through the system.