A Critical Overview of the State-of-the-Art Methods for Biogas Purification and Utilization Processes

Muhamed Rasit Atelge, Halil Senol, Mohammed Djaafri, Tulin Avci Hansu, David Krisa, Abdulaziz Atabani, Cigdem Eskicioglu, Hamdi Muratçobanoğlu, Sebahattin Unalan, Slimane Kalloum, Nuri Azbar and Hilal Demir Kıvrak
Additional contact information
Muhamed Rasit Atelge: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Siirt University, Siirt 56100, Turkey
Halil Senol: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Giresun University, Giresun 28200, Turkey
Mohammed Djaafri: Unité de Recherche en Energie Renouvelables en Milieu Saharien (URERMS), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Adrar 01000, Algeria
Tulin Avci Hansu: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Siirt University, Siirt 56100, Turkey
David Krisa: UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, Okanagan Campus, The University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Abdulaziz Atabani: Alternative Fuels Research Laboratory (AFRL), Energy Division, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Cigdem Eskicioglu: UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, Okanagan Campus, The University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Hamdi Muratçobanoğlu: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde 51240, Turkey
Sebahattin Unalan: Alternative Fuels Research Laboratory (AFRL), Energy Division, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Slimane Kalloum: Laboratory of Energy, Environment and Information System, Adrar University, Adrar 01000, Algeria
Nuri Azbar: Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey
Hilal Demir Kıvrak: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Sciences, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-39

Abstract: Biogas is one of the most attractive renewable resources due to its ability to convert waste into energy. Biogas is produced during an anaerobic digestion process from different organic waste resources with a combination of mainly CH 4 (~50 mol/mol), CO 2 (~15 mol/mol), and some trace gasses. The percentage of these trace gases is related to operating conditions and feedstocks. Due to the impurities of the trace gases, raw biogas has to be cleaned before use for many applications. Therefore, the cleaning, upgrading, and utilization of biogas has become an important topic that has been widely studied in recent years. In this review, raw biogas components are investigated in relation to feedstock resources. Then, using recent developments, it describes the cleaning methods that have been used to eliminate unwanted components in biogas. Additionally, the upgrading processes are systematically reviewed according to their technology, recovery range, and state of the art methods in this area, regarding obtaining biomethane from biogas. Furthermore, these upgrading methods have been comprehensively reviewed and compared with each other in terms of electricity consumption and methane losses. This comparison revealed that amine scrubbing is one the most promising methods in terms of methane losses and the energy demand of the system. In the section on biogas utilization, raw biogas and biomethane have been assessed with recently available data from the literature according to their usage areas and methods. It seems that biogas can be used as a biofuel to produce energy via CHP and fuel cells with high efficiency. Moreover, it is able to be utilized in an internal combustion engine which reduces exhaust emissions by using biofuels. Lastly, chemical production such as biomethanol, bioethanol, and higher alcohols are in the development stage for utilization of biogas and are discussed in depth. This review reveals that most biogas utilization approaches are in their early stages. The gaps that require further investigations in the field have been identified and highlighted for future research.

Keywords: biofuels; biogas components; purification; utilization of biogas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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