Patent ID: 9157100
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: C12P,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for fermenting syngas to oxygenated organic compound with integrated hydrogen sulfide supply comprising: a. passing syngas into a syngas fermentation reactor containing aqueous fermentation broth comprising microorganisms capable of bioconverting syngas to an oxygenated organic compound, to produce an oxygenated organic compound in the fermentation broth, biosolids comprising the microorganism, and an off-gas; b. removing a portion of the fermentation broth containing the oxygenated organic compound and biosolids from the syngas fermentation reactor; c. separating from said portion of the fermentation broth an aqueous biosolids-containing fraction with said fraction having a higher solids content than said portion of the fermentation broth; d. subjecting the aqueous biosolids-containing fraction to anaerobic digestion to biodegrade the solids to form an aqueous liquid phase containing degraded solids product and a gas product comprising hydrogen sulfide; and e. passing at least a portion of the gas product comprising hydrogen sulfide to the syngas fermentation reactor to provide at least a portion of sulfur nutrient for the microorganisms of step (a).