Culture systems and methods of using same. The systems include a housing defining an inner space. The inner space includes a headspace and at least a portion of a reservoir. A surface for immobilizing cells is moveable between the headspace and the reservoir. The systems can be used for coculturing methanotrophs and phototrophs for processing biogas and wastewater, particularly from anaerobic digesters.

The invention relates to a method for membrane permeation of a gas flow including methane and carbon dioxide, wherein said gas flow is cooled to a temperature of 0° C. to −60° C. before being fed into a membrane separation unit.

A process for removal of acid gases from fluid stream, wherein the fluid stream is brought into contact with an absorbent to obtain a treated fluid stream and a laden absorbent, the absorbent comprising a diluent and a compound of the general formula (I) wherein R.sup.1 is selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl and C.sub.2-C.sub.8-hydroxyalkyl; R.sup.2 is selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl; R.sup.3 is selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl; R.sup.4 is selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl; R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl; with the proviso that at least one of the following conditions (i) and (ii) is met: (i) R.sup.5 is C.sub.3-C.sub.8-alkyl bound to the nitrogen atom via a secondary or tertiary carbon atom; (ii) when R.sup.4 is hydrogen, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl; or when R.sup.4 is C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl, at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-C.sub.8-alkyl; and n is an integer from 0 to 6. Further provided is an absorbent for the absorption of acid gases from a fluid stream, comprising a diluent and a compound of the general formula (I) as defined above, as well as the use of a compound of the general formula (I) as defined above for removal of acid gases from a fluid stream. The absorbents are useful for the selective removal of hydrogen sulfide from fluid streams and have high acid gas loading capacity, high stability, and low volatility.

##STR00001##

A method for generating Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) from raw biogas is disclosed, in which carbon dioxide is removed from biogas to generate pipeline specification RNG by a combination of absorption and membrane processes. The absorption process provides for the initial bulk carbon dioxide removal. The membrane process provides for the simultaneous removal of carbon dioxide and water vapors to pipeline specification. The method is characterized by a reduced separation energy consumption as compared to stand-alone membrane and absorption unit separations for biogas upgrading.

A gas separation method including performing a gas separation operation that separates a source gas into a primary-side gas and a secondary-side gas with a membrane of a membrane module. The source gas contains a combustible component. The gas separation operation includes pressurizing the source gas and supplying the source gas to a primary side of the membrane module and depressurizing a secondary side of the membrane module to a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure. The primary-side gas has a higher concentration of the combustible component than the secondary-side gas, and the gas separation method further includes detecting a composition of the secondary-side gas and stopping the gas separation operation in an instance in which the composition enters a specified range.

Disclosed is an adsorbent containing a metal oxide for adsorption of hydrogen sulfide in biogas, and a biogas purification system using the same.

An apparatus for purifying gas where gas is treated in a multistage treatment having at least two ejector stages, a motive medium including liquid, steam or gaseous agent at high pressure injected by an ejector of the ejector stage, and the gas is sucked into the same ejector and mixed with the motive medium for forming a mixture, at least a part of gas and/or liquid phase of the mixture is supplied to a second ejector stage having so that a second motive medium which includes liquid, steam or gaseous agent is injected to the ejector and the gas and/or the liquid phase is sucked into the same ejector in which the gas and/or liquid phase is mixed with the second motive medium for forming a second mixture, at least one of the mixtures includes an additive for removing impurities of the gas, and a purified gas is formed.

A device for separating a gas stream which has a compressor and three membrane separation units in series, connected to pass the retentate stream of each of the first two units to the subsequent membrane separation unit, comprises conduits for recycling the permeate streams of the second and the third membrane separation unit to upstream of the compressor and a control device controlling the fraction of the second permeate stream which is recycled. Adjusting which fraction of the second permeate is recycled can be used to maintain a target composition of the retentate obtained in the third membrane separation unit when the flow rate or the composition of the gas stream changes.

Processes, systems, and associated control methodologies are disclosed that control the flow of biogas during the biogas cleanup process to create a more consistent flow of biogas through the digester, while also optimizing the output and efficiency of the overall renewable natural gas facility. In representative embodiments, a biogas buffer storage system may be used during the cleanup process to control the pressure and flow rate of biogas. The biogas buffer storage system may monitor and control the biogas flow rate to either bring down or increase the digester pressure, thereby maintaining a normalized biogas flow rate.

The present invention relates to a method of capturing CO.sub.2 from a gas stream. The method uses a two liquid phase capture composition.