BACKGROUND
Synthesis gas, syngas, fermentation uses carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) to produce valuable alcohols like ethanol, with companies such as INEOS Bio and LanzaTech piloting large-scale facilities. Achieving economic viability in this process requires stable, high-yield alcohol production over long periods, which depends on carefully matching the syngas supply to the metabolic capacity of the bacteria in the fermenter. Traditional methods rely on operators to manually adjust gas flow rates, a practice that often leads to inefficiencies, inconsistent product yield, energy waste, and higher operating costs.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
This innovative technology employs the pH of the fermentation broth as a real-time indicator to regulate the syngas feed rate during continuous fermentation. By monitoring the natural relationship between pH and the metabolic activity of acetogenic bacteria, the system maintains an optimal pH setpoint to maximize ethanol production from CO and H2. A PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller automatically adjusts the syngas supply, precisely balancing the production of acids and alcohols without needing external acid or base additions. The automated, feedback-driven approach ensures stable, long-term operation with high selectivity toward ethanol, increasing efficiency and profitability for commercial scale syngas fermentation operations.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
MAIN ADVANTAGES
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
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