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Title: Biological conversion of synthesis gas: Quarterly report [No. 3-4, July 1, 1993--September 3, 1993]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10114491· OSTI ID:10114491

This report details the status of the Biological Conversion of Synthesis Gas Project. The following tasks are described as being completed: (1) the test plan, (2) culture development, and (3) the mass transfer/kinetic studies. The bioreactor studies (Task 4) are underway. The continuous stirred tank reactor system for the conversion of H{sub 2}S to elemental sulfur using Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum has been studied for varying light intensities. The system was also modified to include both sulfur recovery and cell recycle using ceramic membranes. Studies were also performed to observe the effects of cell recycle using a polysulfone hollow filter membrane module. Work on Task 5, limiting conditions/scale-up, includes a scale-up study with three different size reactors to establish the optimum operating conditions for hydrogen production from synthesis gas by the biological water-gas shift reaction using the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum. Finally, Task 6, an economic analysis, was performed for the H{sub 2} production system using R. rubrum. The analyses show that biological H{sub 2} production from syngas can be very economical if the light requirements for R. rubrum can be neglected.

Research Organization:
Arkansas Univ., Fayetteville, AR (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG21-90MC27225
OSTI ID:
10114491
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/27225-3540; ON: DE94000066; TRN: 94:000822
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Oct 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English