Energy production with hyperthermophilic organisms

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of degradation with hyperthermophilic organisms, and in particular to the use of hyperthermophilic degradation to produce heat and energy rich components including hydrogen and ethanol from a biomass. In some embodiments, a biomass is fermented in the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms to produce heat. The heat is used to heat a liquid which is used directly in a heat pump or radiant heat or to produce electricity or drive a steam turbine. In some embodiments, acetate is utilized as a substrate to produce energy by methanogenesis.

1 . A process comprising:
 providing a biomass that contains a pathogen and a population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism;   culturing said population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism under anaerobic conditions on said biomass at a temperature of 80° C. or higher;   maintaining said culture at temperature of 80° C. or higher so that said pathogens are destroyed to provide a decontaminated biomass residue;   and processing said decontaminated biomass residue.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of separating at least one degradation product from said biomass. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of converting said degradation product into heat or electricity. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said biomass is selected from the group consisting of sewage, agricultural waste products, food waste and manure. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein said biomass selected from the group consisting of sewage, agricultural waste products, food waste and manure is mixed with an algae biomass. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least one degradation product is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, acetate, methane and ethanol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said degradation product is acetate and further comprising the step of feeding said acetate to methanogenic bacteria under conditions such that said acetate is converted to methane. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of feeding at least one degradation product to a culture system comprising algae under conditions such that the growth of said algae is enhanced. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein said degradation product is acetate. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said conditions comprising maintaining said microorganism in a stationary phase.