Microalgae to improve the functioning of the biogas units
The working group led by Prof. Gerd Klöck and Dr. Anja Noke, biotechnologists at the Institute for Environmental and Biological Techniques at the University of Applied Sciences Bremen, focus their work on the development of new processes for the industrial use of microalgae. In this context, since July 1, 2008, he has been leading a project on the improvement of biogas installations, entitled AlgenBiogas. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports it for a period of 3 years, to the tune of 245.000 euros within the "FHprofUnd" program (research in specialized higher schools in collaboration with companies).
The biogas produced in the reactors contains, in addition to the desired fuel, methane, other gases such as CO2 and hydrogen sulphide (H2S). If these gases are present in too high concentrations and the proportion of methane falls below a certain threshold, then the biogas is no longer usable for combustion.
The goal of AlgenBiogas is the development of a process for the removal of H2S and CO2 in biogas using microalgae. These can indeed use these gases to increase their own biomass. The oxygen produced during this photosynthesis can then be removed by a suitable process. The microalgae biomass formed is then used as a substrate for the biogas formation process. Previously, useful substances such as omega 3 and omega 6 or carotenoids can be extracted from algae.
A suitable pilot plant must be built and tested for several months in connection with a biogas plant, in collaboration with Algatec (Bremen) and MT-Energie (Lower Saxony). Research and development work should lead to the design of a commercial facility, which will complete new or existing biogas plants.
A parallel sub-project, starting at the Anhalt Advanced School, will, among other things, select and cultivate suitable microalgae and extract products from the algal biomass. The partners of the Anhalt School in this project are the BiLaMal Group, and the companies Stollberg and LUM GmbH.
Source: http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/ ... /55304.htm