Scale up study of a thermophilic trickle bed reactor performing syngas biomethanation

Biomethane constitutes an important biofuel for the transition towards a biobased circular economy with sustainable energy sector. An environmentally friendly pathway its production is through gasification of 2nd generation biomass that generates syngas (H2, CO, and CO2), followed by biomethanation. A novel design thermophilic trickle bed bioreactor was successfully tested at semi-pilot scale. It operated continuously performing biomethanation artificial mixture (45% H2, 20% 25% CO2 10% N2). Its effectiveness compared to primitive lab scale reactor 28 times lower volume under identical operating conditions. At empty residence time 0.6 h, converted 100% 98% influent H2 respectively produced CH4 rate 10.6 ± 0.2 mmol·lbed−1·h−1, whereas 89% 73% CO achieved productivity 8.5 mmol·lbed−1·h−1. The maximum in 17.6 mmol·lbed−1·h−1 0.33 h 99.2 0.1% product selectivity. Furthermore, connected series fluidized gasifier fed wood pellets assess potential system when supplied real syngas. obtained results showed no process inhibition reactor, which accomplished conversion efficiency 92.4 0.6% h.