Bio-recycling Of Carbon Dioxide Emitted From Power Plants
We remind you of our earlier post, concerning the report: "Structure and Function of Enzymes Involved in the Methanogenic Pathway Utilizing Carbon Dioxide and Molecular Hydrogen", by Shima, et.al., Germany.
Herein, through the link and following excerpt, it is revealed that a US Patent has been applied for, detailing a technology to utilize that "Methanogenic Pathway", and to do so, as we have earlier suggested to be feasible, at the sources of Carbon Dioxide emission; specifically, in this US Patent Application, at power plants utilizing fossil fuel.
Some excerpts:
"Bio-recycling of carbon dioxide emitted from power plants
Inventors: John Offerman and Hugh McTavish
Date: June 25, 2009
Abstract: The invention provides a method to decrease emission of carbon dioxide from combustion of fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons and to enhance the efficiency of methane production from anaerobic biodigesters. The invention involves feeding carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas of hydrocarbon fuel combustion to an anaerobic biodigester where biomass is anaerobically fermented to produce methane. Carbon dioxide is an electron acceptor for anaerobic fermentation, and thus some of the carbon dioxide is reduced to methane, which can again be used for fuel. In this way, at least a portion of the exhaust gas CO2 is recycled to form fuel methane instead of being released into the atmosphere. Thus, the net CO2 emission from burning a given amount of fossil fuel is decreased. Adding carbon dioxide to an anaerobic fermentation also increases the efficiency and amount of methane production in the fermentation.
Summary: The invention provides a method to decrease emission of carbon dioxide from combustion of fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons and to enhance the efficiency of methane production from anaerobic biodigesters. The invention involves feeding carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas of hydrocarbon fuel combustion to an anaerobic biodigester where biomass is anaerobically fermented to produce methane."
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Note that we have as yet been unable to identify the corporate or institutional affiliations, if any, of the inventors.
But, this patent illustrates a biotechnology pathway to produce Methane from Carbon Dioxide. As per many of our earlier reports, there are also multiple artificial technologies wherein Carbon Dioxide serves as the basis for Methane synthesis.
Moreover, in earlier posts, we documented the feasibility of utilizing waste heat from Coal-fired power plants to help stimulate the cultivation and metabolism of CO2-recycling microbes in dedicated bio-reactors. As it happens, as we will in a future report document, another Coal power plant product, aside from CO2 and waste heat, can be employed in a symbiotic technology to enhance the production of commercially valuable products from effluent CO2.
And, yet again: Once we have the Methane, synthesized as herein from power plant Carbon Dioxide, we can convert that Methane directly into liquid fuels; or, we can use that Methane to enhance the productivity of indirect Coal liquefaction processes to make liquid fuels; or, we can "Tri-reform" that Methane with even more Carbon Dioxide to make liquid fuels.
All as we have documented. All as we will continue to document.
