Abstract: A process for fermenting syngas is provided which is effective for decreasing an amount of time needed to inoculate a main reactor. The process includes propagating a culture of acetogenic bacteria to provide an inoculum for a main reactor and fermenting syngas in the main reactor.

Abstract: A process is provided for fermentation of syngas that is effective for reducing conductivity and providing an alcohol STY of about 10 g ethanol/(L·day). The process includes introducing the syngas into a reactor vessel and providing a nitrogen feed rate to the reactor vessel of about 100 mg or more nitrogen/gram of cells produced. Fermentation of the syngas is effective for providing a fermentation medium having an average conductivity of about 16 mS/cm or less and an STY of 10 g ethanol/(L·day) or more.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas. The process includes contacting the tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture. The gas mixture is passed through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature between about 900° C. to about 2000° C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds. In this aspect, at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas.

Abstract: A method of gaseous substrate fermentation comprising: adding gaseous substrate comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) into an aqueous medium in a bioreactor; said method comprising measuring conversion of CO; measuring conversion of H2; increasing flow of gaseous substrate by a preselected flow factor; wherein agitation comprises greater than or equal to target agitation rate.

Abstract: A process is provided for fermentation of syngas that is effective for reducing conductivity and providing an alcohol STY of about 10 g ethanol/(L·day). The process includes introducing the syngas into a reactor vessel and providing a nitrogen feed rate to the reactor vessel of about 100 mg or more nitrogen/gram of cells produced. Fermentation of the syngas is effective for providing a fermentation medium having an average conductivity of about 16 mS/cm or less and an STY of 10 g ethanol/(L·day) or more.

Abstract: A process for fermenting syngas and a fermentation medium provides high ethanol productivity while removing medium components that were previously thought to be essential. The process is effective for providing a specific STY of at least about 1 g ethanol/(L·day·gram cells). In this aspect, the fermentation medium has less than about 1.04 ppm boron, less than about 0.16 ppm manganese, less than about 0.26 ppm molybdenum, or less than about 0.16 ppm copper.

Abstract: A process is provided for fermentation of syngas that is effective for reducing conductivity and providing an alcohol STY of about 10 g ethanol/(L·day). The process includes introducing the syngas into a reactor vessel and providing a nitrogen feed rate to the reactor vessel of about 100 mg or more nitrogen/gram of cells produced. Fermentation of the syngas is effective for providing a fermentation medium having an average conductivity of about 16 mS/cm or less and an STY of 10 g ethanol/(L·day) or more.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided which are effective for improving CO mass transfer. The process includes introducing syngas into a reactor vessel through a gas sparger located below a liquid level in the reactor vessel. The syngas being introduced at a flow rate effective for maintaining a pressure inside of the reactor vessel of at least about 1 psig. An agitation energy of about 0.01 to about 12 kWatts/m3 medium is provided. The process is effective for providing a volumetric CO mass transfer coefficient of about 100 to about 1500 per hour.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for gasification of a carbonaceous material. The process produces a raw syngas that can be further processed in a tar destruction zone to provide a hot syngas. The process includes contacting said carbonaceous material with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a gasification zone to gasify a portion of said carbonaceous material and to produce a first gaseous product. A remaining portion of the carbonaceous material is contacted with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a burn-up zone to gasify additional portion of the carbonaceous material and to produce a second gaseous product and a solid ash. The first gaseous product and said second gaseous product are combined to produce a raw syngas that includes carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and tar. The raw syngas is contacted with molecular oxygen containing gas in a tar destruction zone to produce said hot syngas.

Abstract: A bioreactor is provided that includes a main reactor having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. The bioreactor also includes a growth reactor continuous with the main reactor and having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. A method is also provided where acetogenic bacteria are contacted with syngas in a growth fermentor section of a reactor vessel that is continuous with a main fermentor section of a reactor vessel.

Abstract: A process for fermenting syngas is provided which is effective for decreasing an amount of time needed to inoculate a main reactor. The process includes propagating a culture of acetogenic bacteria to provide an incoulum for a main reactor and fermenting syngas in the main reactor.

Abstract: A process for fermenting syngas and a fermentation medium provides high ethanol productivity while removing medium components that were previously thought to be essential. The process is effective for providing a specific STY of at least about 1 g ethanol/(L-day-gram cells). In this aspect, the fermentation medium has a weight ratio of NH4+ to B of about 625:1 or more, or a weight ratio of NH4+ to Mn of about 4050:1 or more, or a weight ratio of NH/ to Mo of about 2500:I or more, or a ratio of NH4+ to Cu of about 4050:I or more; or the fermentation medium has a weight ratio of P to B of about 30:1 or more, or a weight ratio of P to Mn of about 190:1 or more, or a weight ratio of P to Mo of about 120:1 or more, or a weight ratio of Mn to Cu of about 190:1 or more; or the fermentation medium has a weight ratio of K to B of about 35:1 or more, or a weight ratio of K to Mn of about 245:1 or more, or a weight ratio of K to Mo of about 150:1 or more, or a weight ratio of K to Cu of about 245:1 or more.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for gasification of a carbonaceous material. The process produces a raw syngas that can be further processed in a tar destruction zone to provide a hot syngas. The process includes contacting said carbonaceous material with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a gasification zone to gasify a portion of said carbonaceous material and to produce a first gaseous product. A remaining portion of the carbonaceous material is contacted with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a burn-up zone to gasify additional portion of the carbonaceous material and to produce a second gaseous product and a solid ash. The first gaseous product and said second gaseous product are combined to produce a raw syngas that includes carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and tar. The raw syngas is contacted with molecular oxygen containing gas in a tar destruction zone to produce said hot syngas.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for gasification of a carbonaceous material. The process produces a raw syngas that can be further processed in a tar destruction zone to provide a hot syngas. The process includes contacting said carbonaceous material with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a gasification zone to gasify a portion of said carbonaceous material and to produce a first gaseous product. A remaining portion of the carbonaceous material is contacted with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a burn-up zone to gasify additional portion of the carbonaceous material and to produce a second gaseous product and a solid ash. The first gaseous product and said second gaseous product are combined to produce a raw syngas that includes carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and tar. The raw syngas is contacted with molecular oxygen containing gas in a tar destruction zone to produce said hot syngas.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing syngas that is effective for use in downstream processes. The process for producing syngas includes operating a gasification apparatus in a start-up mode until the gasification apparatus and equipment downstream of the gasification apparatus are adequately warmed up to a first target temperature. Upon reaching a first target temperature, the process is then operated in a production mode to produce a second syngas with a higher CO/CO2 molar ratio. Operation in a start-up mode until reaching a first target temperature, provides a process that is effective for reducing fouling in downstream equipment and for providing a second syngas can be more effectively cooled and cleaned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for sustaining microorganism culture in a syngas fermentation reactor in decreased concentration or absence of various substrates comprising: adding carbon dioxide and optionally alcohol; maintaining free acetic acid concentrations; and performing the above mentioned steps within specified time.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to process of gasification of carbonaceous materials to produce synthesis gas or syngas. The present disclosure provides improved methods of gasification comprising: adding one or more carbonaceous materials, adding a molecular oxygen-containing gas, adding carbon dioxide gas and optionally adding water into said gasifier. This disclosure is also directed to process of production of one or more alcohols from said syngas via fermentation or digestion in the presence of at least one microorganism.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to process of gasification of carbonaceous materials to produce synthesis gas or syngas. The present disclosure provides improved methods of gasification comprising: adding one or more carbonaceous materials, adding a molecular oxygen-containing gas, adding a methane-containing gas and optionally adding water or steam into said gasifier. This disclosure is also directed to process of production of one or more alcohols from said syngas via fermentation or digestion in the presence of at least one microorganism.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas. The process includes contacting the tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture. The gas mixture is passed through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature between about 900° C. to about 2000° C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds. In this aspect, at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas. The process includes contacting the tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture. The gas mixture is passed through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature between about 900° C. to about 2000° C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds. In this aspect, at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas.