Patent ID: 8518691
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: C12M,C12P,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A membrane bioreactor for anaerobic conversion of gas into liquid products comprising: a plurality of two headed membrane modules having a plurality of hollow fibers, each of the plurality of hollow fibers having a gas permeable hollow fiber wall defining a hollow fiber lumen and an outer surface and each of the membrane modules having a first potted end spaced apart from a second potted end, the first potted end is operably connected to one end of the hollow fibers and the second potted end is operably connected to the other end of the hollow fibers to allow a process liquid to flow through the hollow fiber lumens from the first potted end to the second potted end; a membrane vessel having an interior sealed from the ambient atmosphere for retaining the membrane modules surrounded by a process gas in communication about the outer surface of the hollow fiber wall for formation of a biolayer by interaction of microorganisms with the process gas and for the production of a liquid product, wherein the membrane vessel retains the membrane modules in a common horizontal plane across which the hollow fibers extend vertically; a liquid supply conduit for communicating the process liquid with the hollow fiber lumens of the hollow fibers for permeation of water and nutrients to the biolayer and permeation of liquid products from the biolayer into admixture with the process liquid; a liquid recovery conduit in communication with the hollow fiber lumens to recover the process liquid containing the liquid products from the membrane vessel; and, a gas supply conduit for supplying the process gas to the interior of the membrane vessel.