Enzymatic Biogas Upgrading
The techniques for removing CO2 from biogas are well known and available on the market in a number of ways to upgrade the biogas. Scrubbing with water or amine is most widely used methods. Common to all types is the large capital and operation cost (CAPEX & OPEX) in upgrading systems
A new technique is based on enzyme enhanced removal of the biogas’ content of CO2. The enzyme; Carbonic Anhydrase is well known as an accelerator for CO2 absorbtion and has been studied for decades. The enzyme is one of the fastest enzymes known in nature, and is present in all living organisms. Enzyme’s task is to transport CO2 in and out of the body tissue as lungs and muscles. The enzyme’s inability to remain active for longer periods in harsh industrial processes, has until now, prevented commercial use of the enzyme. Encapsulation of the enzyme in a gel has been tested in lab scale.
During spring 2015 Akermin and Ammongas will build a full-scale upgrading plant, that will handle the 3 million cubic meter biogas/year from WWTP Avedøre’s digesters.
The enzymes used in the project comes from Novozymes A/S,
In July 1, 2015 the biogas will be sent through the system and into the natural gas grid. The demonstration project will run until April 2017, and then will come a long period with commercial operation.