Chemical Fixation of CO2 in Coal Combustion Products and Recycling through Biosystems

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PURL http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/servlets/purl/825555-8B79Dq/native/

Chemical Fixation of CO2 in Coal Combustion Products and Recycling through Biosystems

Creator/Author C. Henry Copeland ; Paul Pier ; Samantha Whitehead ; Paul Enlow ; Richard Strickland ; David Behel
Publication Date 2003 Dec 15
OSTI Identifier OSTI ID: 825555
DOE Contract Number FC26-00NT40933
Other Number(s) TRN: US200423%%64
Resource Type Technical Report
Resource Relation Other Information: PBD: 15 Dec 2003
Coverage Final
Research Org Tennessee Valley Authority (US)
Sponsoring Org (US)
Subject 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 03 NATURAL GAS; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; ACID CARBONATES; BIOMASS; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS; COAL; COMBUSTION PRODUCTS; ETHANOL; FLY ASH; METHANE; NUTRIENTS; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; RECYCLING

Abstract

This Annual Technical Progress Report presents the principle results in enhanced growth of algae using coal combustion products as a catalyst to increase bicarbonate levels in solution. A co-current reactor is present that increases the gas phase to bicarbonate transfer rate by a factor of five to nine. The bicarbonate concentration at a given pH is approximately double that obtained using a control column of similar construction. Algae growth experiments were performed under laboratory conditions to obtain baseline production rates and to perfect experimental methods. The final product of this initial phase in algae production is presented. Algal growth can be limited by several factors, including the level of bicarbonate available for photosynthesis, the pH of the growth solution, nutrient levels, and the size of the cell population, which determines the available space for additional growth. In order to supply additional CO2 to increase photosynthesis and algal biomass production, fly ash reactor has been demonstrated to increase the available CO2 in solution above the limits that are achievable with dissolved gas alone. The amount of dissolved CO2 can be used to control pH for optimum growth. Periodic harvesting of algae can be used to maintain algae in the exponential, rapid growth phase. An 800 liter scale up demonstrated that larger scale production is possible. The larger experiment demonstrated that indirect addition of CO2 is feasible and produces significantly less stress on the algal system. With better harvesting methods, nutrient management, and carbon dioxide management, an annual biomass harvest of about 9,000 metric tons per square kilometer (36 MT per acre) appears to be feasible. To sequester carbon, the algal biomass needs to be placed in a permanent location. If drying is undesirable, the biomass will eventually begin to aerobically decompose. It was demonstrated that algal biomass is a suitable feed to an anaerobic digester to produce methane. The remaining carbonaceous material is essentially bio-inactive and is permanently sequestered. The feasibility of using algae to convert carbon dioxide to a biomass has been demonstrated. This biomass provides a sustainable means to produce methane, ethanol, and/or bio diesel. The first application of concept demonstrated by the project could be to use algal biomass production to capture carbon dioxide associated with ethanol production.
Country of Publication United States
Language English
Format Size: 70 pages; Format: Adobe PDF Document with Extractable Text
Availability OSTI as DE00825555
System Entry Date 2004 Aug 16

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