Italian researchers have developed a technology that captures and eliminates Co2 from biogas that can also be reused in the food and beverage sector.

An Italian group of researchers has developed and patented an easy system able to remove carbon dioxide (Co2) from biogas independently to its origin. The reaserchers have gained 40 years of experience in the field of wastewater treatment and renewable energy, they have also gained many years of experience in university teaching. The system exploits a natural chemical solution that gets in touch with the biogas and immediately removes all the Co2 present into the same biogas. After this first cycle, the solution is able to download the Co2 captured previously, thus acquiring the same original conditions and so able to be reused in the same cycle to capture other molecules of Co2. In the second stage, after extraction, Co2 is purified and made available for food reuse, for example the purified Co2 can be used to carbonate drinks or water. In this way a meter cubic of solution is able to treat hundreds of meter cubics of biogas without ever running out. An automatic biogas analyser is put at the end of the cycle and it is able to measure continuously the methane purity. The energy saving obtained thanks to this innovative system is remarkable. Nowadays all the systems know to eliminate Co2 from biogas are based only on two different technologies: membranes technology and absorption on porous materials such as activated carbon, zeolites, silica gel or metal organic framework. These system, especially the first one mentioned, exploit lots of energy produced to allow the system to work. As an example for every mega watt produced in a membrane system , 60% is consumed by energy, while this technology created by the research group allows to consume only 5% of the produced quantity. One of the most important application is on anaerobic digestion plants in which the biogas (biomethane) produced is polluted by Co2 in a percentage around 30%. The innovation is able to completely remove all the Co2 present into the biomethane produced making it ultrapure around 99,9%. A pilot plant able to treat Co2 has been built and completed last June and so it is available for demonstration. The pilot plant is able to treat around 40 nmc of biogas per hour. The Co2 captured and downloaded is treated to be purified and used in the field of food and beverage (as mentioned above, for example to used to carbonate drinks or water). The company is looking for commercial agreement with technical assistance, above all the type of partners considered are anaerobic digestion owners and, in general, all the companies that are active in the field of gas production. Potential partners should also be companies looking for better and more cost-efficient technology or companies beverage company’s manufacturing. The reaserchers will provide all technological, technical information and support. The partner shoud have experience in the field of renewable energies in the form of bio gas.