Biogas upgrading technologies: Energetic analysis and environmental impact assessment

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2014.09.048

Abstract

Abstract: Biogas upgrading for removing CO₂ and other trace components from raw biogas is a necessary step before the biogas to be used as a vehicle fuel or supplied to the natural gas grid. In this work, three technologies for biogas upgrading, i.e., pressuredwater scrubbing (PWS), monoethanolamine aqueous scrubbing (MAS) and ionic liquid scrubbing (ILS), are studied and assessed in terms of their energy consumption and environmental impactswith the process simulation and green degree method. A non-random-two-liquid and Henry's law property method for a CO₂ separation system with ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][Tf₂N]) is established and verified with experimental data. The assessment results indicate that the specific energy consumption of ILS and PWS is almost the same and much less than that of MAS. High purity CO₂ product can be obtained by MAS and ILS methods, whereas no pure CO₂ is recovered with the PWS. For the environmental aspect, ILS has the highest green degree production value, while MAS and PWS produce serious environmental impacts.

Key words: Biogas upgrading, Monoethanolamine aqueous scrubbing, Pressured water scrubbing, Ionic liquid, Green degree

摘要： Biogas upgrading for removing CO₂ and other trace components from raw biogas is a necessary step before the biogas to be used as a vehicle fuel or supplied to the natural gas grid. In this work, three technologies for biogas upgrading, i.e., pressuredwater scrubbing (PWS), monoethanolamine aqueous scrubbing (MAS) and ionic liquid scrubbing (ILS), are studied and assessed in terms of their energy consumption and environmental impactswith the process simulation and green degree method. A non-random-two-liquid and Henry's law property method for a CO₂ separation system with ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][Tf₂N]) is established and verified with experimental data. The assessment results indicate that the specific energy consumption of ILS and PWS is almost the same and much less than that of MAS. High purity CO₂ product can be obtained by MAS and ILS methods, whereas no pure CO₂ is recovered with the PWS. For the environmental aspect, ILS has the highest green degree production value, while MAS and PWS produce serious environmental impacts.

关键词: Biogas upgrading, Monoethanolamine aqueous scrubbing, Pressured water scrubbing, Ionic liquid, Green degree

Yajing Xu, Ying Huang, Bin Wu, Xiangping Zhang, Suojiang Zhang. Biogas upgrading technologies: Energetic analysis and environmental impact assessment[J]. Chin.J.Chem.Eng., 2015, 23(1): 247-254.

Yajing Xu, Ying Huang, Bin Wu, Xiangping Zhang, Suojiang Zhang. Biogas upgrading technologies: Energetic analysis and environmental impact assessment[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2015, 23(1): 247-254.

References

[1] P. Weiland, Biogas production: current state and perspectives, Appl. Microbiol. Biot. 85 (4) (2010) 849-860.

[2] A. Petersson, A. Wellinger, Biogas upgrading technologies—developments and innovations, IEA Bioenergy Task 37 (2009).

[3] H. Nie, H. Jiang, D. Chong, Q.Wu, C. Xu, H. Zhou, Comparison of water scrubbing and propylene carbonate absorption for biogas upgrading process, Energ. Fuel 27 (6) (2013) 3239-3245.

[4] S.S. Kapdi, V.K. Vijay, S.K. Rajesh, R. Prasad, Biogas scrubbing, compression and storage: perspective and prospectus in Indian context, Renew. Energ. 30 (8) (2005) 1195-1202.

[5] J. Niesner, D. Jecha, P. Stehlík, Biogas upgrading technologies: State of art review in European region, Chem. Eng. Trans. 35 (2013) 517-522.

[6] E. Ryckebosch, M. Drouillon, H. Vervaeren, Techniques for transformation of biogas to biomethane, Biomass Bioenergy 35 (5) (2011) 1633-1645.

[7] A. Laura, S.M. Pellegrini, Simone Gamba, Energy saving in a CO₂ capture plant by MEA scrubbing, ChERD. 89 (2011) 1676-1683.

[8] L. Duan, M. Zhao, Y. Yang, Integration and optimization study on the coal-fired power plant with CO₂ capture using MEA, Energy 45 (1) (2012) 107-116.

[9] T. Patterson, S. Esteves, R. Dinsdale, A. Guwy, An evaluation of the policy and techno-economic factors affecting the potential for biogas upgrading for transport fuel use in the UK, Energ Policy 39 (3) (2011) 1806-1816.

[10] W. Afzal, X. Liu, J.M. Prausnitz, Solubilities of some gases in four immidazolium-based ionic liquids, J. Chem. Thermodyn. 63 (2013) 88-94.

[11] F. Karadas,M. Atilhan, S. Aparicio, Reviewon the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as alternative fluids for CO₂ capture and natural gas sweetening, Energ. Fuel 24 (11) (2010) 5817-5828.

[12] M. Althuluth, M.C. Kroon, C.J. Peters, Solubility ofmethane in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 51 (51) (2012) 16709-16712.

[13] S. Raeissi, C.J. Peters, A potential ionic liquid for CO₂-separating gas membranes: Selection and gas solubility studies, Green Chem. 11 (2) (2009) 185-192.

[14] J. Xu, S.Wang,W. Yu, Q. Xu,W.Wang, J. Yin,Molecular dynamics simulation for the binary mixtures of high pressure carbon dioxide and ionic liquids, Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 22 (2) (2014) 153-163.

[15] Y. Qiao, F. Yan, S. Xia, P. Ma, Densities and viscosities of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate bmim PF6+CO₂ binary system: determination and correlation, Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 21 (11) (2013) 1284-1290.

[16] X. Zhang, X. Zhang, H. Dong, Z. Zhao, S. Zhang, Y. Huang, Carbon capture with ionic liquids: overview and progress, Energy Environ. Sci. 5 (5) (2012) 6668-6681.

[17] M. Hasib-ur-Rahman, M. Siaj, F. Larachi, Ionic liquids for CO₂ capture—development and progress, Chem. Eng. Process. 49 (4) (2010) 313-322.

[18] L. Zhang, J. Chen, J.X. Lv, S.F.Wang, Y. Cui, Progress and development of capture for CO₂ by ionic liquids, Asian J. Chem. 25 (5) (2013) 2355-2358.

[19] Z. Zhao, H. Dong, X. Zhang, The research progress of CO₂ capture with ionic liquids, Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 20 (1) (2012) 120-129.

[20] F. Karadas,M. Atilhan, S. Aparicio, Reviewon the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as alternative fluids for CO₂ capture and natural gas sweetening, Energ. Fuel 24 (2010) 5817-5828.

[21] S. Aparicio, M. Atilhan, Computational study of hexamethylguanidiniumlactate ionic liquid: A candidate for natural gas sweetening, Energ. Fuels 24 (2010) 4989-5001.

[22] S. Raeissi, C.J. Peters, Carbon dioxide solubility in the homologous 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide family†, J. Chem. Eng. Data 54 (2) (2009) 382-386.

[23] E. Ali, I. Alnashef, A. Ajbar, S. Mulyono, H.F. Hizaddin, M.K. Hadj-Kali, Determination of cost-effective operating condition for CO₂ capturing using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid, Korean J. Chem. Eng. 30 (11) (2013) 2068-2077.

[24] S. Raeissi, C. Peters, High pressure phase behaviour of methane in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, Fluids Phase Equilib. 294 (1) (2010) 67-71.

[25] S.N. Aki, B.R. Mellein, E.M. Saurer, J.F. Brennecke, High-pressure phase behavior of carbon dioxide with imidazolium-based ionic liquids, J. Phys. Chem. B 108 (52) (2004) 20355-20365.

[26] S. Kumar, J.H. Cho, I. Moon, Ionic liquid-amine blends and CO₂BOLs: Prospective solvents for natural gas sweetening and CO₂ capture technology—A review, Int. J. Greenh. Gas. Con. 20 (2014) 87-116.

[27] K. Starr, X. Gabarrell, G. Villalba, L. Talens, L. Lombardi, Life cycle assessment of biogas upgrading technologies, Waste Manag. 32 (5) (2012) 991-999.

[28] P. Cozma, C. Ghinea, I.M?m?lig?,W.Wukovits,A.Friedl,M. Gavrilescu, Environmental impact assessment of high pressure water scrubbing biogas upgrading technology, Clean Soil Air Water 41 (9) (2013) 917-927.

[29] X. Zhang, C. Li, C. Fu, S. Zhang, Environmental impact assessment of chemical process using the green degree method, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 47 (4) (2008) 1085-1094.

[30] R. Yan, Z. Li, Y. Diao, C. Fu,H.Wang, C. Li, Q. Chen, X. Zhang, S. Zhang, Green process for methacrolein separationwith ionic liquids in the production ofmethylmethacrylate, AICHE J. 57 (9) (2011) 2388-2396.

[31] S. Mattedi, P.J. Carvalho, J.A.P. Coutinho, V.H. Alvarez, M. Iglesias, High pressure CO₂ solubility in N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium protic ionic liquids, J. Supercrit. Fluids 56 (3) (2011) 224-230.

[32] A.M. Pinto, H. Rodriguez, Y.J. Colon, A. Arce Jr., A. Arce, A. Soto, Absorption of carbon dioxide in two binary mixtures of ionic liquids, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 52 (17) (2013) 5975-5984.

[33] J. Troncoso, C.A. Cerdeiriña, Y.A. Sanmamed, L. Romaní, L.P.N. Rebelo, Thermodynamic properties of imidazolium-based ionic liquids: Densities, heat capacities, and enthalpies of fusion of [bmim][PF6] and [bmim][NTf2], J. Chem. Eng. Data 51 (5) (2006) 1856-1859.

[34] Y. Huang, H. Dong, X. Zhang, C. Li, S. Zhang, New fragment contributioncorresponding states method for physicochemical properties prediction of ionic liquids, AICHE J. 59 (4) (2013) 1348-1359.

[35] M.B. Gorensek, C.W. Forsberg, Relative economic incentives for hydrogen from nuclear, renewable, and fossil energy sources, Int. J. Hydrogen Energ. 34 (9) (2009) 4237-4242.

[36] T. Botha, H. Von Blottnitz, A comparison of the environmental benefits of bagasse-derived electricity and fuel ethanol on a life-cycle basis, Energ Policy 34 (17) (2006) 2654-2661.

[37] J.R. Moreira, Sugarcane for energy—recent results and progress in Brazil, Energy. Sustain. Dev. 4 (3) (2000) 43-54.

[38] F. Fantozzi, C. Buratti, Biogas production fromdifferent substrates in an experimental continuously stirred tank reactor anaerobic digester, Bioresour. Technol. 100 (23) (2009) 5783-5789.

[39] X. Tian, X. Zhang, S. Zeng, Y. Xu, Y. Yao, Y. Chen, L. Huang, Y. Zhao, S. Zhang, Process analysis andmulti-objective optimization of ionic liquid-containing acetonitrile process to produce 1,3-butadiene, Chem. Eng. Technol. 34 (6) (2011) 927-936.

[40] M. Hagen, E. Polman, J.K. Jensen, A. Myken, O. Jönsson, A. Dahl, Adding gas from biomass to the gas grid, Rep. SGC 118 (2001).

[41] X. Zhang, X. He, T. Gundersen, Post-combustion carbon capture with a gas separation membrane: Parametric study, capture cost, and exergy analysis, Energ. Fuel 27 (8) (2013) 4137-4149.

[42] M. Persson, Evaluation of upgrading techniques for biogas, Report SGC 142 (2003).

[43] D. Camper, J. Bara, C. Koval, R. Noble, Bulk-fluid solubility and membrane feasibility of Rmim-based room-temperature ionic liquids, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 45 (18) (2006) 6279-6283.

[44] Y. Hou, R.E. Baltus, Experimental measurement of the solubility and diffusivity of CO₂ in room-temperature ionic liquids using a transient thin-liquid-film method, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 46 (24) (2007) 8166-8175.

[45] J. Kume?an, D. Tuma, G. Maurer, Partial molar volumes of selected gases in some ionic liquids, Fluids Phase Equilib. 275 (2) (2009) 132-144.