Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biogas Cleaning and Pretreatment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biomethane

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

This chapter deals with the processing of raw biogas, directly from the anaerobic digester. This biogas generally contains undesirable components which are corrosive to metals and toxic to health and the environment. Before the biogas is sent to an upgrading unit, it requires some pretreatment to remove and minimize contaminants which might cause damage. Depending on the anaerobic digester, the contaminants might vary but the two main ones are hydrogen sulfide and moisture. In agricultural digesters, the H2S level can range from 1000 to 4000 ppm. Even in small local digesters, used only for generating on-site power in an old generator, the hydrogen sulfide should be kept below 200 ppm or else it seriously affects the life of the engine. For larger scale upgrading plants, especially membrane and PSA technologies, a more systematic approach should be taken to biogas pretreatment. All possible contaminants are briefly introduced and discussed but only the engineering design for H2S removal and moisture reduction is explained in detail in this chapter. Chapter 3 deals with specific upgrading technologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Van Haren M, Fleming R (2005) Electricity and heat production using biogas from the anaerobic digestion of livestock manure - literature review. Technical report, ontario ministry of agriculture, food and rural affairs, Ridgetown College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  2. European Committee for Standardization (2015) Gas infrastructure - Quality of gas - Group H

    Google Scholar 

  3. European Committee for Standardization (2017) Natural gas and biomethane for use in transport and biomethane for injection in the natural gas network - part 2: Automotive fuels specification

    Google Scholar 

  4. Authur W, Anna L (2006) Biogas upgrading and utilization. Technical report, IEA Bioenergy

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hoyer K, Hulteberg C, Svensson M, Jernberg J, Norregard O (2016) Biogas upgrading - technical review. Technical report, ENERGIFORSK

    Google Scholar 

  6. European Committee for Standardization (2016) Natural gas and biomethane for use in transport and biomethane for injection in the natural gas network - part 1: Specifications for biomethane for injection in the natural gas network

    Google Scholar 

  7. Technical Committee ISO/TC 118 (2010) Compressed air - Part 1: Contaminants and purity classes

    Google Scholar 

  8. Electrigaz Technologies (2008) Feasibility study - biogas upgrading and grid injection in the Fraser valley. Technical report, BC Innovation Council, British Columbia

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bruser T, Lens P, Truper H (2000) The biological sulfur cycle. In: Environmental technologies to treat sulfur pollution, pp. 47–76. IWA Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brock T, Madigan M, Martinko J (2006) Biology of microorganisms. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kuenen JG, Robertson LA, Tuovinen OH (1992) The Prokaryotes, chapter The genera Thiobacillus, Thiomicrospira, and Thiosphaera, pp 2636 – 2657. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chen G, Geng L, Yan R, Gould D, NG L, Liang T (2004) Isolation and characterization of sulphur-oxidizing thiomonas sp. and its potential application in biological deodorization. Appl Microbiol 39:495–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kantachote D, Charernjiratrakul W, Noparatnaraporn N, Oda K (2008) Selection of sulfur oxidizing bacterium for sulfide removal in sulfate rich wastewater to enhance biogas production. J Biotechnol 11(2)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wada A, Shoda M, Kubota H, Kobayashi T, Fujimura K, Kuraishi H (1986) Characteristics of H2S oxidizing bacteria inhibiting a peat biofilter. Ferment Technol 64:161–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Sorokin YD, Foti M, Pinkart CH, Muyzer G (2006) Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in soap lake (Washington State), a meromictic, haloalkaline lake with an unprecedented high sulfide content. Appied Environ Microbiol 73:451–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ghosh W, Mandal S, Roy P (2005) Paracoccus bengalensis sp. nov., a novel sulfur - oxidizing chemolithoautotroph from the rhizospheric soil of an Indian tropical leguminous plant. Syst Appl Microbiol 29:396–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hong J, Park K (2005) Compost biofiltration of ammonia gas from bin composting. Bioresour Technol 96:741–745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Elias A, Barona A, Rios FJ, Arreguy A, Munguira M, Penas J, Sanz JL (2000) Application of biofiltration to the degradation of hydrogen sulfide in gas effluents. Biodegradation 11(6):423–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hirai M, Kamamoto M, Yani M, Shoda M (2001) Comparison of the biological H2S removal characteristics among four inorganic packing materials. J Biosci Bioeng 91:396–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Duan H, Koe L, Yan R, Chen X (2006) Biological treatment of H2S using pellet activated carbon as a carrier of microorganisms in a biofilter. Water Res 40(14):2629–2636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lee E, Cho K, Ryu H (2003) Degradation characterization of sulfur containing malodorous gases by acidithiobacillus thiooxidans az11. Korean J. Odor Res. Eng. 2:46–53

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ma Y, Yang B, Zhao J (2006) Removal of H2S by thiobacillus denitrificans immobilized on different matrices. Bioresour Technol 97(16):2041–2046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Aroca G, Urrutia H, Nunez D, Oyarzun P, Arancibia A, Guerrero K (2007) Comparison on the removal of hydrogen sulfide in biotrickling filters inoculated with thiobacillus thioparus and acidithiobaccillus thiooxidans. Electron J Biotechnol 10(4):514–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kim JH, Rene ER, Park HS (2008) Biological oxidation of hydrogen sulfide under steady and transient state conditions in an immobilized cell biofilter. Bioresour Technol 99(3):583–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Rattanapan C, Boonsawang P, Kantachote D (2009) Removal of H2S in down-flow GAC biofiltration using sulfide oxidizing bacteria from concentrated latex wastewater. Bioresour Technol 100(1):125–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Chien Chung Y, Huang C, Ping Tseng C (1996) Operation optimization of thiobacillus thioparus ch11 biofilter for hydrogen sulfide removal. J Biotechnol 52:31–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Oyarzun P, Arancibia F, Canales C, Aroca E (2003) Biofiltration of high concentration of hydrogen sulphide using thiobacillus thioparus. Process Biochem 30:165–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Shinabe K, Oketani S, Ochi T, Kanchanatawee S, Matsumura M (2000) Characteristics of hydrogen sulfide removal in a carrier-packed biological deodorization system. Biochem Eng J 5(3):209–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Cho KS, Ryu HW, Lee NY (2000) Biological deodorization of hydrogen sulfide using porous lava as a carrier of thiobacillus thiooxidans. J Biosci Bioeng 90(1):25–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Vlasceanu L, Popa R, Kinkle B (1997) Characterization of thiobacillus thioparus lv43 and its distribution in a chemoautotrophically based groundwater ecosystem. Appied Environ Microbiol 63(8):3123–3127

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jun La H, Taek Im W, Ten L, Suk Kang M, Yun Shin D, Taik Lee S (2005) Paracoccus koreensis sp. nov. isolated from anaerobic granules in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55(4):1657–1660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. ERDI (2009) Biogas purification project (in Thai). Technical report, Energy Research and Development Institute, Thailand

    Google Scholar 

  33. Chung YC, Huang C, Tseng CP (2001) Biological elimination of H2S and NH3 from waste gases by biofilter packed with immobilized heterotrophic bacteria. Chemosphere 43:1043–1050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Park D, Cha J, Ryu H, Lee G, Yu E, Rhee J, Park K (2002) Hydrogen sulfide removal utilizing immobilized thiobacillus sp. iw with ca-alginate bead. Biochem Eng J 11:167–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Barona A, Elias A, Arias R, Cano I, Gonzalez R (2004) Biofilter response to gradual and sudden variations in operating conditions. Biochem Eng J 22(1):25–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Sinnott R, Coulson, Richardson (2005) Chemical engineering design, vol 6, 4th edn. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  37. National Refrigerant Reference Guide. National Refrigerant Inc., 6 edn (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  38. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2016) Refrigeration piping and heat transfer components

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bahadori A, Vuthaluru HB (2009) Simple methodology for sizing of absorbers for teg (triethylene glycol) gas dehydration systems. Energy 34:1910–1916

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Sirichai Koonaphapdeelert

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Pruk Aggarangsi

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    James Moran

Authors
  1. Sirichai Koonaphapdeelert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pruk Aggarangsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James Moran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sirichai Koonaphapdeelert .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Koonaphapdeelert, S., Aggarangsi, P., Moran, J. (2020). Biogas Cleaning and Pretreatment. In: Biomethane . Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8307-6_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8307-6_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-8306-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-8307-6

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation