Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced by contacting syngas components such as CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a surface of a membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with a biofilm on the opposite side of the membrane. These steps provide a stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals. The gas fed on the membrane's gas contact side transports through the membrane to form a biofilm of anaerobic microorganisms that converted the syngas to desired liquid products. The system can sustain production with a variety of microorganisms and membrane configurations.

Abstract: A clostridia bacterial species Clostridium pharus, is provided. Under anaerobic conditions Clostridium pharus can convert ethanol and/or acetate to butyric acid.

Abstract: An isolated clostridia bacterial species (Clostridium coskatii ATCC No. PTA-10522, “PS02”) is provided. Under anaerobic conditions C. coskatii can convert CO and/or H2 and/or CO2 to ethanol or acetate. Thus, this bacterium is capable of transforming waste gases (e.g. syngas and refinery wastes) into useful products.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in the production of butanol and butyrate by microbial fermentation, particularly to production of alcohols by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO and the addition of an inorganic sulfur additive. It more particularly relates to the provision of an inorganic organic sulfur source to a fermentation system such that one or more micro-organisms convert a substrate comprising CO to butanol. In one aspect the invention uses a sulfur additive comprising inorganic sulfur compounds having a +2 to a +4 sulfur oxidation state that produces sulfur oxoanions and hydrosulfur oxoanions in an aqueous fermentation medium.

Abstract: A process for conversion of syngas to liquid products that serve as surface acting agents uses the gas stream at a relatively low pressure to eliminate the use of a compressor. The process uses a liquid stream as the primary energy input to a gas injector that intensely mixes gas and the liquid with reduced compression costs while the presence of the liquid product maintains the gas-liquid dispersion as it flows downward to build a static pressure head. The process lowers the required gas pressure by adjusting the elevation of the gas injector such that a conduit receives the gas-liquid dispersion from the outlet of the injector and confines it as it travels downward to enter the bottom of a column of liquid. The liquid product provides a surface acting agent that prolongs the creation and duration of microbubbles in the gas-liquid dispersion.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for the production of butanol. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use syntrophic co-cultures for the production of butanol from syngas.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions for the production of butanol. Specifically, the compositions of the present invention use syntrophic co-cultures for the production of butanol from syngas.

Abstract: Bioconversion processes are disclosed that enable high conversion efficiencies of gas substrate containing both carbon monoxide and hydrogen to oxygenated organic compounds via the carbon monoxide and hydrogen pathways using anaerobic, deep, bubble column fermentation in a cost effective manner. The high conversion efficiency processes of this invention comprise the combination of using at least two deep, bubble column reactors in flow series and using certain feed gas compositions and microbubbles while avoiding carbon monoxide inhibition.

Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced from biomass using indirect gasification of the biomass to produce a syngas containing CO2, CO, H2 and methane that passes the syngas without substantial removal of the methane to a fermentation zone for the conversion of the CO and CO2 and H2 to ethanol and the production of a methane rich stream followed by the methane reforming of the methane rich stream to produce additional CO and CO2 and H2 that passes to the fermentation zone.

Abstract: This invention pertains to processes for selectively oxidizing hydrogen cyanide contained in syngas using permanganate anion as an oxidant contained in an aqueous solution that is contacted with the syngas under certain conditions of temperature, pressure and duration of contact.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for preparing microorganism concentrates from fermentation broth containing a free suspension of the microorganisms which is used for the anaerobic conversion of syngas to oxygenated organic compound. The processes involve the use of processing steps and the presence of certain additives to enhance the ability of the microorganism concentrate to be stored for extended periods and reactivated.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in the production of ethanol and acetate by microbial fermentation, particularly to production of alcohols by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO and the addition of an inorganic sulfur additive. It more particularly relates to the provision of an inorganic organic sulfur source to a fermentation system such that one or more microorganisms convert a substrate comprising CO to ethanol. In one aspect the invention uses a sulfur additive comprising inorganic sulfur compounds having a +2 to a +4 sulfur oxidation state that produces sulfur oxoanions and hydrosulfur oxoanions in an aqueous fermentation medium.

Abstract: Gene sequences of key acetogenic clostridial species were sequenced and isolated. Genes of interest were identified, and functionality was established. Key genes of interest for metabolic catalyzing activity in clostridial species include a three-gene operon coding for CODH activity, a two-gene operon coding for PTA-ACK, and a novel acetyl coenzyme A reductase. The promoter regions of the two operons and the acetyl coA reductase are manipulated to increase ethanol production.

Abstract: A process that generates sulfide in production of liquid products from syngas and a system for syngas fermentation including a sulfide generation process to convert feed gas to liquid product, the process including: partially oxidizing high-temperature gas, input gas, and molten sulfur to generate sulfide gas, the high-temperature gas containing oxygen, the input gas containing carbonaceous fuel and the sulfide gas containing hydrogen sulfide, CO, CO2, and H2; mixing the sulfide gas with the feed gas to generate mixed gas having a predetermined hydrogen sulfide concentration; providing at least a portion of the mixed gas to a production fermentor containing microorganisms; and converting the mixed gas to the liquid product by contact with the microorganisms.

Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced from biomass using gasification of the biomass to produce a syngas containing CO2, CO, H2 and sulfur or sulfur compounds that passes the syngas to a fermentation step for the conversion of the CO and CO2 and H2 to ethanol. Sulfur and sulfur compounds in the syngas are used to satisfy sulfur demanded by bacteria in the fermentation step. A sulfur control additive is added to the gasification to control syngas sulfur and sulfur compounds at a desired concentration to meet bacteria sulfur demand.

Abstract: The methods are utilized to recover ammonium from waste water using CO2 acidified absorption water. The process is particularly suited for utilization of cellular matter and a CO2 rich tail gas from a syngas fermentation process and derives significant benefit from the recovery of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate. Ammonia and ammonium are recovered from the treatment of the syngas as an ammonium rich solution, at least a portion of which is recycled to the fermentation zone to aid in the production of liquid products. A carbon dioxide rich gas produced by fermentation is used to capture the ammonia and ammonium, forming the ammonium rich solution.

Abstract: A process for converting a feed gas containing at least one of CO, CO2, and/or H2 to a liquid product using biomass that grow on the surface of carriers suspended in a fermentation broth within the vessel of a moving bed bioreactor (MMBR). An injector is used to at least partially dissolved the feed gas in the fermentation broth, at least partially entrain the gas in the broth as microbubbles and to introduce the mixture of the entrained gas and broth into the vessel in a substantially horizontal direction. The injection of the mixture creates eddy current in the surrounding liquid for thoroughly mixing the fermentation broth in the vessel and for keeping the biomass carrier moving to provide sufficient shear so as to maintain a biofilm thickness on the carrier in a desirable range.

Abstract: A method of operating a fermentation zone for the production of ethanol from syngas uses a crotonate derivative to prevent or reverse the effects of butyrigen contamination. The crotonate compound works in continuous fermentation processes to reduce or eliminate contamination from butyrate and butanol in the syngas derived ethanol product.

Abstract: A stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components contacts CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a hydrophilic membrane under anaerobic conditions and transfers these components into contact with microorganisms contained as a biofilm on the membrane. Maintaining the microorganisms as a biolayer on the surface of the membrane facilitates cleaning of the membrane surface that retains the biofilm. In addition the shell gas space that surrounds the membranes may be flooded to reduce or remove the biofilm. Agitation of the liquid, by for example the bubbling of gas in the surrounding shell space, can fully or partially remove the biofilm from the membrane.

Abstract: A process converts a gas input stream comprising CO, CO2, and H2 by contact with fermentation liquid into a liquid product that controls the concentration of CO and CO2 in the fermentation vessel. The process charges the feed gas stream and a recycle gas stream to the fermentation vessel and an off-gas stream collects above the fermentation liquid. The off-gas stream flows to a gas injector that uses a recycle liquid as the motive fluid to mix the off-gas with the recycle liquid into a gas-liquid dispersion. Contact of the recycle liquid with the off-gas absorbs CO2 to provide the recycle stream. A gas separation vessel separates the remainder of the off-gas into the recycle gas. Mixing the recycle gas with the gas input stream dilutes the concentration of CO to lower the CO concentration in the fermentation vessel. Separated recycle liquid flows to a CO2 stripper for removal of CO2.