Innovative design and operational strategies to improve CO2 mass transfer during photosynthetic biogas upgrading

Several innovative strategies of design and operation, such as biogas recirculation, centrate pH manipulation and liquid nanoparticle addition, were tested to assess their potential to improve CO2 mass transfer during photosynthetic purification of biogas in a microalgae-bacteria pond connected to a biogas scrubbing column. Biogas recirculation in the column was not effective since the biogas and cultivation broth had reached chemical equilibrium under the operational conditions and configuration without biogas recirculation. Feeding the centrate at pH 10 (with and without ammonium desorption) directly to the absorption column substantially improved CO2 removal efficiency (from 58 to 91 %) achieving a biomethane complying with European standards. The supplementation of liquid nanoparticles considerably increased biomass concentration in the pond (from 1.2 to 3.5 g/L), revealing an enhanced photosynthetic activity. However, this promising approach requires additional research to elucidate the best conditions to boost CO2 absorption and guarantee a biomethane fulfilling most international standards.