Latest technological trends in biogas. The latest Biomass Technological Surveillance report for the bioeconomy publishes the international patents registered in the third quarter of 2022 in biofuels, including the latest trends in biogas.

Bulletin No. 44 produced by the OEPM, in collaboration with Ciemat, Bioplat, and the State Research Agency, reviews the patents of this period of bioenergy (solid fuels, pellets, biochars…), syngas, biogas, bioalcohols and biofertilizers, among others.

Cellulose nanocrystals

The report also addresses the growing incidence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), the nanometric material obtained from the acid hydrolysis of conventional cellulosic fibers that has attracted the interest of numerous patents in recent years. In fact, the application of this abundant, removable, relatively cheap and extremely small material (extracted from cotton, wood or bacterial cellulose) is potentially important in diverse fields such as medicine, electronics, food, or the development of composite materials.

In engineering applications, its use stands out for the development of sensors, catalysts, materials for wastewater treatment, etc. Altogether, a total of 800 new families of patents related to cellulose nanomaterials have been filed between January 2017 and December 2021.

Latest technological trends in biogas

Air Liquide (FR). Device and process for adjusting the equipment of a facility for producing biomethane.  Device for adjusting the equipment of an installation for the producing biomethane from a flow of biogas comprising methane and carbon dioxide.

• Airco Process TechA/S (DK). Two-step amine absorption process for removal of CO2/H2S from biogas. Two step amine absorption process for removal CO2/H2S from biogas. The present invention relates to a method for upgrading biogas, i.e. a method for removing carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulphide from biogas.

• BAT Services BVBA(BE). System and process for biogas upgrading. The present invention concerns a system and process for upgrading biogas and other methane-containing gas mixtures to a methane-rich gas. In particular, it is an improved upgrade system with integrated water purification technology with a UV irradiation system for water treatment.

• Brissaud Maxime et al. (FR). Biogas treatment method – Associated plant. The present invention relates to a biogas treatment method according to which said biogas is passed in the gaseous state through a first membrane stage comprising at least one first separation membrane. The methane permeability of said first separation membrane being greater than its carbon dioxide permeability. The temperature and pressure conditions of said biogas enabling the passage of methane behind said membrane.

• Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (CH). Method for cleaning a gas mixture by adding ozone. The invention describes methods for cleaning a gas mixture. In a first step, a gas mixture is provided, the gas mixture comprising a gas selected from the group consisting of a methane-containing biogas, which is obtained by fermentation of organic material and which has a methane concentration of at least 40% vol. and a pyrolysis gas that is obtained by thermal treatment of organic material and that has a carbon monoxide concentration of at least 2% vol. or a combination thereof.

• Host Holding BV (NL). Method and system for biogas polishing. The invention relates to a method and system for biomethane polishing via adsorption, in particular temperature swing adsorption, wherein a reactor comprising at least one sorbent that is selective for carbon dioxide such that polished biogas comprising a carbon dioxide concentration below 200 ppm.

• K-Inn Tech SRL (IT). Method for the production of high purity biomethane. A method for the production of biomethane from biogas, in which the biogas undergoes at least two biogas upgrading steps, with intermediate removal of H2O. The biogas upgrading stage consists of the direct methanation reaction of the CO2 present in the biogas: CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H2O.n método para la producción de biometano a partir de biogás, en el que el biogás se somete al menos a dos pasos de mejora del biogás, con eliminación intermedia de H2O. La etapa de mejora del biogás consiste en la reacción de metanización directa del CO2 presente en el biogás: CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H2O.

• Krivalec BVBA (BE). Device and method for the production of electricity and heat by processing biomass. Device for producing electricity and heat comprising a fermentation tank, with a tank with an insulated bottom, insulated side walls, an airtight roof, a biomass inlet, a biogas outlet, digestate outlet pipes and heating pipes, and a cogeneration installation , composed of a gas engine and a generator.

• Vasudevan Venkataramani (IN). Anaerobic digestion system for biogas production. Anaerobic digestion system and kit to produce biogas from organic waste. The system includes a feeder module with a feeder conduit to receive organic waste and one or more digester units extending elongated at an incline and downward to receive organic waste for digestion.

• Waga Energy (FR). Method for the cryogenic separation of a feed stream based on biomethan.  Method for biomethane production that includes said cryogenic separation and associated facilities. Method for the cryogenic separation of a feed stream containing methane, nitrogen and/or oxygen.

• Xebec Adsorption Inc et al. (CA). Among the latest trends in biogas is a biogas methane recovery system. A system for recovering methane from biogas comprises a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit, a biogas inlet, a mixing gas, and a surge tank. 

Contribution to biogas from Soluciones Integrales de Combustión 

The contribution of the Spanish energy engineering Soluciones Integrales de Combustion to the biogas value chain focuses on the final phase of biogas energy use in thermal combustion plants and power stations, for which it designs the solution, executes the supply , installation and commissioning of the facilities, maintenance and repair of facilities that operate with this fuel. The company also carries out the implementation of the instrumentation and control systems of the plants.